7th March 2025 - Skylark Meadow is SOLD
In October 2024, the field (Skylark Meadow) that resides along Penton Avenue, Wheatsheaf Lane, Thames Side and Riverside Close went up for Sale for a purchase price in excess of £150,000 with expenses and legal costs. The land, owned by Strode’s Foundation on behalf of Strode’s College, has been in custodianship since 1710 and is currently tenanted by Councillor Denise Turner-Stewart who maintains the field and keeps a horse there.
Many residents who live near the field were undoubtedly concerned about future development. The land is incredibly precious to the community, who appreciate the biodiversity, increasing wildlife and beauty as well as the flood and air quality protection the land offers.
It was felt residents should unite together to purchase the field as a community to protect its integrity as a natural environment. Following a street letter to all affected residents, a community meeting was held, and several residents under the umbrella of the Silvery Sands Residents Association (SSRA) and Penton Avenue residents joined forces to submit a consolidated offer for the field.
The team representing the community bid also reached out to the College trustees requesting they take into consideration the environmental concerns and that the community was willing to offer Strode’s a generous overage to further emphasise the desire to protect the field.
Despite the initial bid to Strode’s College to purchase the field as a community being accepted, the agent informed the team at the beginning of March that the College has opted to proceed with another interested party. The agent stated there was a great level of interest in the site and the accepted offer was well in excess of the guide price.
Sadly, money seems to talk and despite trustees indicating that they would consider the detrimental environmental impacts and flood risk should the land be developed, it has clearly come down to cash in the bank. The residents will fight to ensure the land is treated properly and not just end up another money spinner for a greedy developer.
Timescale of events
25/11/24: Residents meeting at Staines Boat Club
28/11/24: Meeting of ‘steering group’ led to agreement on structure of initial bid for £175k
29/11/24: local resident who lives adjacent to field informs group he has submitted an independent bid for £250k
13/12/24: Kempton Carr announced that our initial bid was approved and that we were through to the second stage of the bidding process where bids of at least £250k are required.
20/12/24: Bid of £285k submitted to second stage of bidding process. Residents are canvassed to obtain pledges of financial support for any purchase
07/03/24: Kempton Carr announce that the vendors have accepted an offer from an undisclosed party
This article was compiled by the Skylark Community Bid
The field is in Greenfield i.e. Greenbelt and is also in an official Flood Plain as per the Environment Agency, see maps below:
2014 Skylark Meadow Floods
Below are some pictures taken by David Rowley, a local resident, during the 2014 flood where the River Thames saturates Skylark meadow.
