NEW fears over the future of the water meadows at Petersfield have been voiced this week after signs warning trespassers were erected on the land.
Former Petersfield mayor John Crowhurst alerted town councillors on Tuesday night after discovering that signs had appeared at either side of the public footpath which crosses the water meadows.
On Wednesday Tesco, which owns the land, told The Herald the signs were purely for insurance against claims for accident or injury on the land.
The water meadows, which were bought by Tesco with the former abattoir site, are designated in the current draft review of the local plan as informal open space.
There were the subject of bitter controversy a year ago when Tesco decided not to give the land to the town, as it had proposed in planning discussions with East Hampshire District Council.
Mr Crowhurst pointed out this week: ÒIf Tesco had handed over this land to the town as proposed, there would be no need for them to worry about insurance now.Ó
In October 2000 Mr Crowhurst, then a district councillor as well as a town councillor, accused Tesco of using underhand tactics to get the go-ahead for its Petersfield store after breaking its promise to give the water meadows to the town.
He claimed the supermarket had gained planning approval Ôby subterfugeÓ and urged townspeople to watch the water meadows very carefully.
He said last year he feared Tesco would be influenced by changes in government planning guidelines and try to develop the water meadows for housing.
This week signs have appeared which warn ÒMembers of the public are requested to remain on the footpath as adjoining land is privately owned and trespassing will be at your own risk.Ó
Mr Crowhurst told The Herald: ÒThe public has always had access to this land, and since l992 when, with the help of the then county councillor Ken Bulmer, I had the footpath opened from Grange Road to Alderfield, it has always been my aim to have this land remain in public ownership.Ó
He added: ÒThe question to be asked of Tesco now, is why have they put these signs up?Ó
ÒI have seen this happen on potential development sites where developers do not want claims from nearby residents that sites have been used for public recreational purposes for many years, which is the case here.Ó
Mr Crowhurst continued: ÒI think itÕs about time that Tesco came forward with a categorical statement that it would never attempt to obtain permission to develop this land.
ÒI also believe that the nearby residents both of Grange Road and Borough Road should be very vigilant and very concerned about the future of this land.Ó
He was furious last year when Tesco decided to retain ownership of the water meadows, after telling East Hampshire District Council it felt it could maintain and provide informal open space as well as the town or district council.
Mr Crowhurst said last year Tesco had insulted both the people of Petersfield and their councillors by going back on its word.
But TescoÕs corporate affairs manager, Katherine Edwards, said in reply that Tesco and the town could not agree the sum of money needed to maintain the water meadows and so Tesco decided it would be better to maintain the land itself.
She said the land would remain a public open space and Tesco had never had any intention of using it for housing Ònor will we do soÓ.
This week Carol Chandler, for Tesco, reiterated her statement, saying that the signs were for insurance against claims for accident injury on the water meadows.
ÒThere is no intention to develop.Ó