‘We’re not playing games’: Parents launch playground protests to fight school field sell-off
Summary
People in Totnes, Devon have been protesting to stop a school from selling a local field called Lower Field. The school wants to sell the land to raise money for building repairs, but community members say the field is important for outdoor activities and local wellbeing.Key Facts
- The school, King Edward VI Community College (KEVICC), has government permission to sell Lower Field, which is about 1.5 hectares in size.
- The community has used the field for sports, fitness classes, and casual outdoor activities for many years.
- Campaigners worry that selling the field will reduce safe, open green space, especially for women, girls, and families who cannot afford sports clubs.
- A group called Friends of Lower Field is trying to raise money to buy the land from the school to keep it as a community space.
- The field was originally gifted about 100 years ago by the Elmhirst family, who were known for supporting education and farming projects.
- There is uncertainty about whether the land was given with legal protections for community use.
- The field is expected to be put on the market in January, creating urgency for fundraising efforts.
- Research shows nearly half of UK residents have lost access to community spaces since 2023, highlighting a national concern.
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