ARGUMENTS over the use of a patch of land in Walmersley raged on the first day of an inquiry into whether the field should be granted village green status.

The public inquiry, chaired by independent inspector Alan Evans, began at the Fusilier Museum in Bury on Tuesday and is expected to continue until today.

Mr Evans’ duty is to determine whether land at Springside Road, adjacent to Christ Church Walmersley, has been used “for lawful sports and pastimes” for a period of 20 years or more and so can be granted village green status.

Residents association, Friends of Walmersley Village (FOWV), last year applied to Bury Council for village green status, to protect the land from being earmarked to build 44 homes.

Christ Church is objecting to the proposal after it was reported in March, 2012, that they could sell the land for £1.1 million — to fund an upgrade to their hall.

This was through a development plan with the Affordable Housing Consultancy, V9 Developments and Great Places Housing Group, but it later emerged the proposal could be scuppered if Christ Church officials put the land on the open market.

FOWV claim Christ Church rejected several of their proposals to permit development on some of the field, thus generating the finances required, but still saving part of it.

Paul Denney, chairman of FOWV, submitted the village green application.

Mr Denney said in the 27 years he has lived in Barnside Close he has had regular access to the “back field” through a gap in the hedge and through gates.

He said children living in School Lane, Barnside Close and Springside Road had always played ball games, made dens and swings, had waterfights and snowball fights there in summer and winter. Mr Denney said between 1990 and 2004 he had a dog which he walked on the field, which was also used as a shortcut to Springside School, Walmersley Tennis Club and the village shops.

Mr Denney said: “The back field was regarded as a safe haven. The neighbourhood knew where the children were and the children all had a great time there. The community who live in the area see the back field as a positive and vibrant place. We never asked for or were given permission to use the land, but we were never approached to be told we could not use the land.”

Mr Denney also said uniformed societies such as Brownies and Scouts used the field regularly and it was the site of community-run farmers’ markets, charity events, spring fairs and bonfires.

But David Mandy, representing the parochial church council (PCC) of Christ Church Walmersley, said these events had all been organised by the church or with the church’s permission.

He said Christ Church Walmersley had repeatedly discouraged unauthorised use of the back field over the years, including putting up “private property” signs and warnings prohibiting activities such as golf, horse riding, riding motorbikes, cycling and exercising dogs.

But these signs, Mr Mandy said, were frequently ripped down or vandalised within days and so may not have been seen by all residents.

Mr Mandy also said over the years the church had locked several access gates, put up new fencing and created earth mounts to block the gaps in the hedge leading from the Springside Road estate.

The PCC alleges that in 2002 another FOWV committee member, David Davenport, requested to buy some of the land to build four to six properties.

Mr Mandy said: “You have submitted a lot of information saying residents always believed this was community land.

“But here is another community member trying to purchase some of the land for building back in 2002.”

Following the hearing, Inspector Evans will give his recommendations to Bury Council which will make the final decision on the issue.