Dixie Dean Village Green Application Hearing adjourned till 15th January 2007:

Press Update 07920090322

Following 3 days of intense evidence presentations and cross examinations, the hearing has been adjourned to the 15th January ,by mutual agreement .

This will enable the city council to trace missing council maps and minutes, which may confirm  or otherwise the virement of land from the ownership of the Housing Committee in 1984 to Libraries/Leisure Services

It appears there is a significant variation in the land size and possible land configuration between minutes dealing with the former Priory Grove Playing Fields between 1982 and 1984 and the matter is unresolved

The Village Green campaigners led by Christine Lunt and Alby Murphy expressed gratitude to both Mike Butler and  Cllr Steve Radford.  Mike Butler did a vast amount of the case presentation work and research whilst Cllr Steve Radford acted as advocate

On Wednesday 20th Dec Cllr Steve Radford presented a very emotive letter by the family of Dixie Dean appealing for the fields to be saved along with the personal statements from 89 local residents which triggered the hearing.

Over the three days ten local residents spoke passionately to save Dixie Dean Fields. They were opposed by Council Officers and Labour Cllr Frank Prendergast

Cllr Radford issued a public statement urging The Breckfield Academy to proceed and build on the John Hamilton site, ensuring both the school could be up and running at the earliest opportunity and save the Dixie Dean Fields "Without thos would be in the best interests of local young people and the wider community, the delays are due to the greed of the scholl seeking to be gifted a prime site by-passing the use of two former schools sites perfectly adequate to home the new school"

Cllr Steve Radford
Liberal Party Group Leader