A BID to register village land as a town green should be rejected because it has not been used by the public for long enough, experts have said.

A council committee will next be urged to refuse the plan for Cowan’s Camp Field, off Star Lane, Watchfield.

Land can be registered as a town or village green if it has been used for “lawful sports and pastimes as of right” for not less than 20 years.

An application was made by Sue Nodder, of Oxford Square, Watchfield, who said it had been used without challenge for 64 years.

A Government inspector looked into the issue and, after a public hearing, said the bid should be refused.

Oxfordshire County Council county solicitor and head of law and culture Peter Clark has now recommended councillors reject the plan.

Inspector Charles Mynors said: “The principal land was used for agriculture in slightly more than half the years during the period from 1990 to 2004 and possibly in some years between 1984 and 1990.

“During those years it was not used for lawful sports and pastimes. It is now being so used, and probably has been so used since around 2000, but that is not sufficient.”

A final decision will be made by the planning and regulation committee when it meets next Monday in County Hall, New Road, Oxford at 2pm. The public can attend.

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