TWO men have taken on the might of the British legal system – and emerged victorious 16 years later.
The David versus Goliath battle started in 1996 when a speculator applied to build blocks of flats on the 6.5 acres of open land between Edgerton and Birkby known as Clayton Fields.
Local residents Mike Hardy and Bill Magee got together to form the Clayton Fields Action Group to campaign against the proposal.
They won that round by gaining legal village status for the fields – but the matter was far from over.
The land was sold to a housebuilding company which, in 2008, launched the first of three further High Court actions against the residents’ group.
Undeterred, the dynamic duo galvanised local support and planned their case. In 2010, Mike, Bill and David Bowen travelled down to London where they personally put the residents’ case before the High Court, saving many thousands of pounds in legal fees. They won.
In March of this year Clayton Fields was awarded the coveted village green status and the community celebrated. The developers have since threatened to pursue the case in the Supreme Court, but Mike and Bill are convinced that the March High Court ruling will prevail.
The two men have never wavered in their task of protecting the fields for the benefit of a wide range of locals who use them – nurseries, schools, community groups, young and old residents alike – and for posterity. Their story is even more amazing as Mike and Bill are both suffering from terminal cancer.
Their legacy is not only saving a beautiful wildlife-rich haven just one mile from the town centre, but they have brought people together.
Residents of all ages and religions have banded together to save the fields and to participate in community activities like the Easter events and annual bonfire which attracted 1,000 people in 2011. The Action Group now has 400 members.
Mike said: “There has been a terrific amount of interest in saving Clayton Fields and we are absolutely elated to have won in the High Court. It has been a wonderful feeling to be doing something so worthwhile.”
Bill added: “The fields are a safe haven for wildlife and the community. Mike and I never looked for any awards – we just bashed on and did it – but it is rather nice to be nominated.”
