Category: Facts
-
Our position on the fence and access to the fields
We understand that people are incredibly upset and angry, and that a space of immeasurable value has been ripped from our community in sudden circumstances. Somerset Council’s actions have been reprehensible and unforgivable, and it should be ashamed. People for Packsaddle are working tirelessly on behalf of this community to re-open the Fields. Meanwhile, we…
-
Please sign the ‘stop the fencing’ petition
Can you help us? We need 5000 signatures on the petition which aims to get the fencing around the fields removed. 5000 signatures triggers a debate at the Somerset Council Full Council meeting. No decisions about these fields (apart from the planning application) have ever been debated at a Council meeting. The decision to sell,…
-
50 years of public access to the fields blocked by fences
For now, because our fight continues! Early this morning (10th March 2026), the fences arrived at Packsaddle Community Fields. Ugly, metal Heras fencing. And lots of it! The iron wall was soon and our local community, who have enjoyed the fields unchallenged for 50 years, were soon fenced out of them. Thank you to everyone…
-
Do Somerset Council understand their obligations under the Option Agreement they signed with LiveWest?
In the correspondence People For Packsaddle received about removing access to the permissive path and fencing off the public right of way at Packsaddle Community Fields, John Kulasek (Interim Head of Property at Somerset Council) states: “… either this Council fulfils its obligations within the contract with the developer and fully supports and aids the…
-
The latest move from LiveWest and Somerset Council
This evening we received a copy of a press release from Somerset Council. The press release announces that Somerset Council will be removing public access to the permissive path in Packsaddle Community Fields and fencing off the public footpath. This is the press release in full (in italics): Council to remove public access over permissive…
-
LiveWest submits pre-action letter to Government Legal Department
LiveWest has submitted a ‘Pre Action Letter’ to the Government Legal Department, asking it to quash the Inspector’s recent decision. LiveWest asserts that the Inspector erred on a point of law, relating to the entitlement of Packsaddle Community Fields to protection, as an area of open green space, under ‘DP16’. Our legal team has submitted…
-
Our legal challenge to the application
On 29th October 2024 our lawyer wrote to Somerset Council, setting out a number of errors of law which would render an approval decision on the application to be unlawful. Full details of this reason are set out in his letter, which we have attached here for our supporters attention. UPDATE – WE WON! Somerset…
-
Like herding cattle…..
A recent upload to the planning portal, from Des Dunlop (agent acting on behalf of the developers, LiveWest), stated “The site was grazed by cattle regularly up to about 2005. Since then, a mixture, but mainly horses.” Many of us have lived in this area long enough to know this simply isn’t true. We wrote…
-
Planning report recommends APPROVAL
The planning officers report is out ahead of the committee meeting and she has recommended APPROVAL. Now more than ever, we need your support at the planning meeting as we continue to pull out all the stops to save this precious space. Join us on 5th November, 2pm in Shepton Mallet for the Planning East…
-
Letter from our lawyer to Somerset Council
On 11th October we shared an update with you about huge reductions that have been made in relation to the Section 106 funding required by the education team at Somerset Council, should the development go ahead. We remain deeply concerned about this matter and feel our concerns have not been satisfactorily answered. Our solicitor has…