The Friends of Clarendon Circle are celebrating an early Christmas present after Ashford Homes South West’s appeal against refusal of its plans for two homes on the recreation land was thrown out.
Paul Adams, who helped set up Friends of Clarendon Circle, said: “It is great news for the local community. They have benefited from this land for such a long time and it was worrying for a lot of people.
“It’s been a long fight, but the message the Planning Inspectorate has sent out is a strong one, that it is protected as recreation land for the community and it will be difficult for the developer if they come back again.
“The land is a historically important space for people and serves a new generation of local children, which is why everyone was so upset.
The land was last used as tennis courts in the 1940s and the Friends of Clarendon Circle are now asking for people to contact them with their memories of the facility.
Mr Adams added: “I want to thank everyone for their support, including the Wiltshire Times.
“I have heard lots of stories over the past few months and we are now asking people to send in their memories of the land.”
The former tennis courts at Clarendon Road, in Trowbridge, known by residents as The Circle, was the subject of a planning application for two four-bedroom detached homes in May.
Residents argued that it was much used by children and received support from Wiltshire Council, which refused permission for the development in June.
Ashford Homes appealed in September, but the planning inspectorate dismissed it on Monday, stating that the land “does fulfil an important amenity and recreation function”.
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