The Playing Fields (Community Involvement in Disposal Decisions) (Wales) Regulations 2015

Notice and consultation arrangements

5.—(1) A local authority must before making a decision to dispose of a playing field, or any part of a playing field, publish a notice (“the notice”) on two consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper circulating in the local authority’s area.

(2) The notice to which paragraph (1) refers must—

(a) state that the local authority is proposing to dispose of a playing field;

(b) inform the public of the place or places and times at which details of the proposed disposal may be inspected, and the period for which the details of the proposed disposal will be available for inspection; and

(c) inform the public of their right to make representations to the local authority in relation to the proposed disposal, the means by which they must do so and the date by which representations must be received by the local authority.

(3) The local authority must make the details of the proposed disposal available for inspection during normal office hours at the local authority’s principal office, if it has one, and, if reasonably practicable, at one or more places in the local authority’s area.

(4) The local authority must specify a period of at least 6 weeks, starting from the date on which the notice is first published, for which the details of the proposed disposal must be available for inspection in accordance with paragraph (2)(b).

(5) The date specified by a local authority by which representations on the proposed disposal must be received by the local authority in accordance with paragraph (2)(c), must be at least 6 weeks after the date on which the notice is first published.

(6) No later than the day on which the notice is first published, the local authority must—

(a) display a copy of the notice in at least one place on or near the playing field to which the proposed disposal relates, and in any event at each official entrance to the playing field, for at least 6 weeks;

(b) where the local authority has a website, place a copy of the notice on that website for at least 6 weeks;

(c) send a copy of the notice to any owner or occupier of land adjoining the playing field;

(d) send a copy of the notice and details of the proposed disposal to—

(i) any local authority whose area includes any part of, or shares a boundary with any part of, the playing field to which the proposed disposal relates;

(ii) the Sports Council for Wales(1);

(iii) the National Playing Fields Association(2);

(iv) those persons as appear to the local authority to represent the interests of persons in the local authority’s area, or in the area of a local authority that shares a boundary with any part of the playing field, who make use of the playing field;

(v) any body whose main aims include preserving—

(aa) open spaces throughout Wales; or

(bb) play opportunities for children throughout Wales;

(vi) such other persons as the local authority considers appropriate.

(7) The local authority must provide (on payment if required by a local authority of a reasonable charge) a copy of the details of the proposed disposal to any person from whom the local authority receives a request during the consultation period.

(1)

Established by Royal Charter dated 4 February 1972, operating under the name “Sports Wales”.

(2)

Founded in 1925 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1933, operating under the name “Fields in Trust”.