Town green bid for Portishead Lake Grounds

PORTISHEAD'S Lake Grounds – described as the jewel in North Somerset's crown – could be given town green status.

The Lake Grounds Residents Association has applied to North Somerset Council to register the beauty spot – a popular green oasis for residents and visitors - as a town green in a bid to protect it from future development.

Those making an application have to prove that local residents have used the land for at least 20 years for lawful sports and pastimes.

A spokesman for the association said: "The aim of the application is to protect the character and visual appearance of the Lake Grounds as they are now."

The move comes at the same time as Portishead Town Council is being asked to reconsider its stance on whether a skate park should be built at the beauty spot.

In the past the town council has backed plans by the Portishead Skate Project (PSP) for a skate park on a section of land between the children's play area and the boathouse.

PSP already has planning permission for a skatepark, which it was granted at appeal, but the consent runs out in November this year.

However its plans hit a stumbling block after an application for landlords consent to North Somerset Council, which owns the beauty spot, was refused.

PSP has now reapplied to North Somerset Council executive member for property, Councillor Tony Lake, for consent to use the land after searches for an alternative site for a skatepark in the town proved fruitless.

Mr Lake has now asked Portishead Town Council if it wishes to reconsider its previous decision to support a skate park at the Lake Grounds.

The town council  in place before the 2011 elections voted to support the plans by PSP, but as the composition of the council has since changed, a fresh view on the matter is now being sought and is due to be discussed by councillors tonight (Wednesday).

If town green status is agreed, it could veto any plans for a skatepark at the site.