In September last year I submitted an application to Sunderland City Council on behalf of a local community group known as Save Dovedale Road Greenspace to register the greenspace land adjacent to Fulwell Methodist Church, Dovedale Road, Sunderland as a town or village green under the Commons Registration Act 2006. The land measures 3,759 sq. m or thereabouts and has been used by the local community for sport and recreational purposes for over fifty years. Full details can be found on my Facebook page Save Dovedale Road Greenspace - https://www.facebook.com/SaveDovedaleRoadGreenspace/.

A successful application would mean that the land would be granted the legal status of a town or village green; it would be entered onto the register of town and village greens, preserved for the use of the community for recreational purposes and protected against development.

The Council, which owns part of the land, has objected to the registration of the land as a village green and the matter has therefore been referred to an independent expert barrister for determination.

We have been advised that the matter will go to a public hearing, which is likely to last for approximately two days, and that we are likely to require the assistance of a barrister to act on our behalf in order to present our case successfully.

Covering the cost of a barrister’s fee is likely to prove expensive and, because we are simply a group of neighbours, we have no funding arrangements in place by which to raise the money. We therefore have no option but to ask that our friends, family, neighbours and anyone interested in protecting this land consider donating some money to help us secure the necessary legal representation required to make our application a success.

We hope you will agree that what little remains of our community greenspace is worth preserving for future generations.

Any donation, however large or small, would be very gratefully received.

N.B., Please be assured that neither I, nor anyone involved with the campaign, will personally profit from any money raised. Any funds raised which are not required for the above purpose will be donated to a suitable charity organization.

Many thanks for your time and generosity.

Lyndsey, Save Dovedale Road Greenspace