Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The Conservative government wants to reform the system.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has issued a consultation document outlining how it wants to reform the system.

DEFRA said the aim of its reform of the village green registration system is to 'effect a better balance between protecting high quality green space valued by local communities and enabling legitimate development to occur'.

DEFRA wants to make it easier for local authorities to reject applications, apply a 'character' test to proposed village green sites, introduce fees for applicants and prevent the registration of land that is subject to a planning application or has planning permission.

I must admit that I didn't realise that land with planning permission was covered by the village green legislation. If you are thinking of applying to get any open space registered as a 'village green', now would seem to be the time to get started!!