‘LIES’ – that is how Rugby Borough Council’s (RBC) leader described social media comments blaming the council for the fencing-off of a public park.
The Heart of England Co-operative, which owns Oakfield Park in Bilton Road, boarded up the field today (Thursday June 23) after the council rejected its planning application to build 50 houses there.
Commenters on social media made varying claims the council wanted to rent the land from the Co-op for free, or for one third of the original price.
It was also claimed the council offered to by the park for just under a fifth of its market value.
Coun Michael Stokes said he was amazed at “some of the lies that people will claim as fact”.
He said: “The Council have not said they do not want to continue to rent the land; neither have The Council asked for a reduction in the rent or for it to be ‘rent free’.
“The Council have made repeated offers to buy the land at it’s current market value, in person, in writing to the Co-Op directly and to the Co-Op’s legal and planning agents. The Council do not want houses on this land!
“Fortunately, local people and those who use the park and are passionate about this area, know the truth.”
The council unanimously rejected the Co-op’s application on grounds Oakfield should remain a community park. The land had been leased as a recreation ground by the council for around 30 years, but the lease expired in 2014 and the Co-Op decided not to extend it.
The Co-op declined to comment.
