The LYME REGIS SOCIETY
SPECIAL MEETING
3PM THURDAY 19 MAY 2016 AT THE WOODMEAD HALL
PROPOSALS BY THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR WARE FARM
As mentioned at the Annual General Meeting, the Society has been consulted by the National Trust concerning development proposals at Ware Farm.
By way of background, in 1987 the Society organised in short order a fund raising campaign to assist the National Trust acquire Ware Farm. This campaign raised £27,000 towards the £38,000 purchase price. It is clear from our archives and press reports at the time, it was the intention that the National Trust would retain the whole of the land in perpetuity for the benefit of the general public.
It is important to understand that the gift of cash to acquire land in these circumstances does not, of itself, make the land free from the threat of development. It is the National Trust that can declare land inalienable, meaning it is free of the threat of being sold or developed, unless as a result of an Act of Parliament.
While the National Trust has declared most of the Ware Farm land inalienable, it has not done so in respect of the site containing the farm buildings and the adjacent triangular field, which it considers as investment properties.
I attended a meeting with Richard Nicholls, Chair of Dorset CPRE and local Ware residents with Helen Mann General Manager of the North & West Dorset Region in mid-April to discuss their proposals. Most of these proposals are against the intention expressed in 1987, and as such are opposed by the Society. However as a result of these strongly expressed objections, the National Trust are rethinking their proposals.
I am pleased to say that Helen Mann has agreed to present the revised proposals at a special meeting of Society Members and their guests. While the purpose of this meeting is to consult Society Members we are conscious that there is potentially wider interest in what the National Trust is proposing.
Therefore without wishing to exclude anyone those who are intending to attend should be as guests of Members. There will be no charge for this meeting.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this meeting. If you wish to communicate with me in lieu of attendance or in addition to attending please email me at chairman@lymeregissociety.org.uk
With kind regards
Chris Savory
Chairman
PS. Please note that, due to the difficulty of communicating with all our members at short notice in these circumstances, it has been decided that in future all such communication will be by email. Please ensure that the Society always has your current email address by emailing membership@lymeregissociety.org.uk