Hands off our park: Shrewsbury takes its council to the supreme court

Peter Day of the Greenfields Community Group at the recreation ground. The disputed land is beyond the hedge on the left of the picture. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Observer

In the Greenfields recreation ground in Shrewsbury, a yoga class is wrapping up while, nearby, people walk their dogs and children play before school. It’s a peaceful scene … but away from the park a fierce battle has been waging between residents and the council, and it is now heading for the supreme court.

In 2017, a section of the park was sold by Shrewsbury town council to a developer for high-end housing, but without consulting the community or even advertising the proposed sale, despite there being a legal requirement to do so.