Residents are investigating whether Cheshire West and Chester Council has followed proper procedures with respect to changes at a popular public park.
More than 50 people attended a public meeting held at Hoole Community Centre on Friday because of concerns at the sale of the lodge in Alexandra Park and a planning condition that the new St Martin’s Academy create a footpath through the park and an access gate.
The meeting was prompted after Linda Webb, of Fairfield Road, turned investigator on becoming concerned at the erection of a fence by developers who bought the lodge and grounds from the council.
She discovered restrictive covenants dating from 1902 and 1910 which forbid the use of any part of the park for any purpose other than as a park.
And she wonders if the council is in breach of section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 which requires a public consultation before a disposal decision is taken.
However, a council spokeswoman has confirmed the authority has not broken any convenants.
A motion was approved at Friday’s public meeting and passed on to the council to ‘repudiate any form of apparent community assent’ to the local authority’s actions.
Miss Webb, of Hoole History and Heritage Society, said: “This is about the protection of a really important feature of Hoole life which is a symbol for everybody in Hoole. It is a very popular park and one of the reasons why people come to live in Hoole.”
Miss Webb said if it was discovered the correct procedures had not been followed then the matter would be referred to the ombudsman.
Professor Roger Davey, of Panton Road, Hoole, said: “The concern is the council has started to sell off land at the park and started to grant organisations private rights.”
Hoole ward councillor Alex Black (Labour) said: “I would be very disappointed if I found out the council had acted incorrectly.”
Council spokeswoman Laura Johnson said legal and property departments had confirmed no covenants had been broken and a full consultation had taken place over the lodge sale.
