19/10/2026
Below is a copy of an email of support for the Village Green Application issued by KCC Cllr John Finch.
RE; Formal Letter of Support for the Town Green (TVG) Application Ref No VAG 704,Grassland plots at St Peters Court Broadstairs.
Dear Commons Registration Team.
I am writing in my official capacity as the elected Kent County councillor representing the Broadstairs and St Peter's division.
I wish to offer my full, unequivocal support to the formal application submitted by residents to register the two plots of community grassland at St Peters Court ,Broadstairs, As a new village green under section 15 of the Commons Act 2006.
As reported widely in the local press, including the Isle of Thanet news, the specific parcels of open land have been a critical focal point for our neighbourhood for generations. For decades, the local youth have you used the community asset as a safe, dedicated play area, and residents have openly utilised the spaces for lawful sports, pastimes, and recreation. This usage has been completely “as of right” meaning it has been continuous, open, peaceful, and without the requirement of formal or restrictive permission.
A recent, highly publicised ownership conundrum left these specific plots abandoned by an unidentifiable layout of responsibility, meaning the grass grew to over 3 feet high.
This neglect stripped the community or their usable green space and triggered substantial safety anxieties, including acute fire hazard adjacent to passing vehicles and houses.
I intervened alongside the community to ensure the field was ultimately cut, but this frustrating episode underscored exactly why permanent protection is required.
Relying on temporary fixes it's not substantial for our community. Granting town or village green status is the only logical step to legally secure this land against future abandonment, decay, or speculative development. Furthermore, the St peter's court green spaces group has highlighted the environmental value of this pocket of green, noting it serves as a natural haven that hosts local bat nights and features dedicated bird and bat boxes.
This grassland is the heart of the estate; it satisfies all the legal requirements under the 20-year rule of public recreational enjoyment. Therefore, I strongly urge the Registration Authority to approve this TVG application to permanently safeguard this essential piece of Broadstairs local infrastructure.
Thank you for your time and diligent consideration of this matter.
Kind regards
John Finch – MEM
Cllr John Finch | County Councillor for Broadstairs | East Thanet | Kent County Council Sessions House, Maidstone, ME14
