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Residents turn Saturday play gatherings into protests against sale of Totnes school field

Government-approved plan for 1.5-hectare plot near the River Dart likely to see houses built

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Residents of Totnes, a historic market town in Devon, have turned their Saturday gatherings on a riverside field into 'play protests' against plans to sell the land for housing. The UK government has approved the sale of the 1.5-hectare Lower Field by King Edward VI Community College, and campaigners fear the loss of a beloved open space used for decades.

Throughout autumn, residents have gathered on Saturdays at Lower Field, beside the River Dart, to play ballgames, fly kites or simply sit on the grass and chat. The gatherings are also a protest: the field's owner, King Edward VI Community College (KEVICC), has been given government approval to sell the plot, and houses are likely to be built on it.

School leaders say they need the money to revamp neglected buildings. Campaigners describe the sale as a modern 'enclosure' of public space, removing land that communities have used for decades.

Becca Robinson, who runs women's and girls' fitness classes on the field, said the prospect of losing it was devastating. "The great thing about the field is it's an open space, so it feels safe. It really worries me that, if we lost it, fewer women and girls will exercise." She said the field also served people seeking unstructured time outdoors, whether for an impromptu game or simply to sit and read.

Anna Ali said there was 'hidden impoverishment' in the area. The dispute comes as research published earlier this year by the anti-poverty charity Trussell found that almost half of UK residents (45%) had lost access to at least one community space in the past three years.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The field is an informal, open space used for fitness classes and unstructured play. Losing it could reduce physical activity among women and girls, who find open spaces safer and more accessible.
  • The protest reflects a wider pattern: Trussell research found 45% of UK residents lost access to a community space within the past three years.
  • The outcome could become a reference point for other schools seeking to sell land to fund repairs, and for communities resisting such sales.

Background

In England, schools can seek government approval to sell land they no longer need, often to raise capital for building projects. Such disposals can become contentious when communities regard the land as shared public space. The Totnes field has been used informally by residents for decades, and the dispute reflects broader concern about shrinking access to community spaces.

Key Perspectives

Residents and campaigners: The field is a safe, open, informal space that supports fitness classes and spontaneous play, and its sale amounts to a modern enclosure of public land. The play protests are intended to show how the space is valued.

School leaders: The college needs funds to revamp neglected buildings, which is why it sought and was granted approval to sell the field.

Skeptics of the sale: Housing on Lower Field would permanently remove open space the community relies on, and the Trussell research suggests such losses are becoming common across the UK.

What to Watch

  • Whether planning applications for housing on Lower Field are submitted to the local council and how they are received.
  • Whether the Saturday play protests expand or change tactics as the sale proceeds.
  • Any further statements from the school or the government about the sale and its timing.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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