Change of use planning permission has been granted to open a portion of Moulton Park up to the public.
The application unanimously voted through by South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee last week is a step closer to a long-awaited play area for the village.
It does not include any play equipment and only relates to change of use for public access for around a third of an acre of the park.
The land, which is part of Moulton Park, was handed over by the district council to Moulton Parish Council for a play area before the whole 22-acre park was sold to the Biggadike Foundation.
A totally separate application by that charity to open the whole of Moulton Park up to the public has also been submitted but has yet to be decided on.
The only work that would be carried out relating to this application is to extend the gated access on to Bell Lane to allow maintenance vehicles on to cut the grass and to put up a fence around the site.
Following the granting of permission, a spokesman for Moulton Parish Council, said: “The Parish Council’s intention is to get the area open to the public as soon as possible for them to enjoy.
“We then plan on working closely with the Biggadike Foundation going forwards.”
At the deciding meeting, local councillors backed the proposal.
Coun Thomas Sneath said: “Moulton is a very beautiful village but as long as I can remember it’s never had a recreation open to the public that’s safe for our children.
“Currently the only places they can meet up are not safe sites.
“I’ve been approached daily by residents wanting a small area of land to be fenced off a short distance to the village centre so they can sit, relax and enjoy a picnic with their children.
“For those with older children it will provide a safe place to meet up.”
Coun Andrew Woolf added: “Moulton’s unique because it doesn’t have a play area.
“This has been a very long time coming.
“I’ve seen pictures of people enjoying recreation in the village, but they’re in black and white, it’s been that long.
“This is a gift that will allow the parish council to put the fencing up and for people to enjoy.”
Meanwhile Coun Gary Taylor told the meeting that South Holland District Council needed to learn from the process and how long it’s taken to come to fruition.
“We need to learn some lessons from this. I know its speeded up since May when we changed portfolios.
“We now need to encourage local people to use this.”
The application for the full 22-acre Moulton Park is due to come before the Planning Committee in the coming months.
