'We'll gather each Saturday' say campaigners - as they fight to protect a community space
Campaigners will be meeting on Saturdays for an hour from 11am at Lower Field in Totnes until October 24th
Campaigners in Totnes say they'll keep gathering each week on what they believe should remain a 'community green space' until they get a guarantee about its future.
The 'Friends of Lower Field' worry the site, owned by KEVICC, is up for sale and new parking restrictions have been introduced.
Sienna Somers is part of the group and says archival correspondence 'records the school and local people sharing the field in the late 1930s before it was gifted by the Dartington Hall Estate to Devon County Council who later transferred it over to trust ownership'.
She added that 'earlier sale and development proposals prompted local campaigns in the 1990s and again in 2022', whilst in February 2025, the Department for Education approved Education South West’s application to dispose of the playing field and other land at KEVICC.
Anna Ali from Friends of Lower Field said: “We recognise that KEVICC needs investment. But the community should not have to lose access to a much-loved and well-used green space to pay for it.
"People have shared with us the many ways they have used the site, from picnics and casual games to organised sports. It’s clear that Lower Field is part of the fabric of our community. This is the true spirit of the vision behind the Elmhirsts’ gift: a space that could be shared and used by all. We want to sit down with Education South West in good faith, before the land is sold, and find a way to improve the school while keeping Lower Field open and free for everyone.”
Lewis Winks from Friends of Lower Field responded to the new booking system by adding: “We welcome some provision for organised groups to use the field, but what so many people value about Lower Field is that it is a space for unstructured enjoyment as well as team sports and clubs.”
“No one wants to book a slot on a calendar to go and sit in the sun and eat their lunch, fly a kite with their child or go for a kickabout after school or work. The new calendar booking system is a visual reminder of what is really happening here: a modern enclosure of public space and leisure time.”
Friends of Lower Field wants to support prospective community buyers, ask Education South West to consider a community bid as its preferred route, and protect free access. Members are also collecting residents’ memories and photographs, researching the sale and contacting elected representatives.
What has KEVICC said?
A spokesperson for Education South West said: “KEVICC is a school with a proud history and an important role at the heart of the local community. This proposal is about ensuring the school estate remains sustainable and fit for the future, while allowing investment into the buildings and facilities our students use every day.
“Importantly, there will be no impact on the day-to-day running of the school, and students will continue to benefit from appropriate sports and outdoor provision.
“Regarding the signage about access and parking at the Elmhirst site. We can confirm that these are not new restrictions, the signs have however recently been renewed as part of our ongoing management of the site. It’s also helpful to note that members of the public can always access the river through the public right of way that runs either side of our plot.
“The signs reflect the fact that the site is private land and that access has to be managed primarily around the needs and safeguarding of KEVICC students and the operation of the school. As well as ensuring that authorised community users of the all-weather pitch and the grass alongside it, have access and can park.
“It is important that we know who is using the site and when, both so that we can manage access effectively and keep the site safe and secure. If you run a group in the town and would like to use our facilities, please do get in touch via the booking page on the KEVICC website so we can, arrange access and set you up as an authorised user.
“We recognise that the site is valued by the local community and are committed to being open and transparent as the formal process progresses, no purchaser has yet been identified.”