How will Gamlingay own the Land (CLT)?
As a landowner, how could we successfully and securely ensure the land is transferred into a safe pair of hands?
A Community Land Trust (CLT) could be the answer?
What we do know is that from speaking to residents in Cinques and from feedback, is that if the land was transferred to the Parish Council or District Council, how do we know it would not end up, in the future, in a way that was not originally intended and find itself with a different usage.
Not a question expected, but a very good question. One answer is designating a Village Green as this would provide a very high level of protection.
The WI Hall (Women’s Institute) on Waresley Road was cited as the main reason for the element of concern to local residents. Our WI (Women Institute Hall) was demolished and sold off for development by our Council.
The website www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk provides a wealth of information.
Here are some of the elements that help explain the principles. It may not be the answer, but it is a principle that could be used and considered.
“Community Land Trusts, or CLTs - give ordinary people the means to steward land for local wellbeing, developing and manage homes and other assets important to their local community”.
About Community:
CLTs are organised around a place, and anyone who lives or works there can join and participate, democratically.
About Land:
CLTs take ownership of the land, removing it from the marketplace and stewarding it on behalf of the local community
About a Trust:
CLTs prioritise the wellbeing of the local community, safeguarding purposes like permanently affordable housing or the preservation of natural habitats.
The website at www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk is a fantastic resource and well worth a look as a potential solution to ensuring the land is safeguarded, by residents and the community, forever.
One thing guaranteed is that the village and the community would need to actively participate in running a Community Land Trust, and one thing this could do is bring all of those groups together under one trust, from our :
Green & environmental groups
Gardeners, nature & allotment societies
Sports including our clubs, walkers, and cyclists
Arts and crafts and small businesses
Voluntary wellbeing groups for example ‘mens sheds’
We have large groups in Gamlingay who could undertake this stewardship which would create a very strong support network for those groups as well as give them the land to use and create great spaces and places for Gamlingay.
Each of the above type of group would have a seat at the table and be legally responsible for the land which would be in its legal control.
In addition, local residents in the area would also have a seat and be part of decision making for the upkeep and stewardship of the land and the site.
The new “Trust” would be a formal legal entity run by the community and not a Council controlled space; as is traditionally the case.
