We failed to save the Green Belt designation, so the land was allocated for development in 2018 and
APP/19/00955 to build 550 houses was approved by BCP in April 2022, with 50 conditions attached.
Our current focus is to ensure that those conditions are scrupulously met by the developers.
SLNoM final account sheet
Closing the SLNoM Fund
Although the SLNoM committee originally decided that the residual SLNoM fund should be used to fight Magwatch’s campaign to protect local green space, it was subsequently decided that the fund should closed, with the remaining money being donated locally.
We are delighted to announce that we have given the residue of £607.13 to Merley First School. The donation will be used as part of MFS’s Playground Friendship Benches project, which in turn is part of the school’s 'Growing Together to Build our Future' vision.
HOLDING HANDS PROTEST (October 2018)
Save Land North of Merley was formed to mobilise local opinion against Poole BC's plans to remove the green belt status from Cruxton Farm and Oakley fields so that developers Richbrough could build 650 homes and a care home.
SLNoM's first event was its Holding Hands protest. On a rain and windswept morning in October, over 600 local residents gathered arou
POOLE BC FULL COUNCIL MEETING
In November 2018 Poole Council met to decide the Local Plan.
A representative of SLNoM addressed councillors, arguing against the allocation of Cruxton Farm for housing development, and many local residents attended the meeting in the Town Hall, making their feelings clear.
However, they fell on deaf ears and the land was, sadly, allocated.
FIRST PUBLIC MEETING - July 2019
Over 300 local people attended a meeting in the Merley Community Centre to hear about and discuss what to expect once the developer Richborough's application was lodged with the council.
Photo Gallery
SECOND PUBLIC MEETING - August 2019
In August 2019 the Merley Community Centre was once again packed as local residents came together. Some of the details of the recently lodged application were outlined and ways to opposing it discussed.
RED CARD EVENT
In November 2021 over 400 people gathered on a green in Merley to give the red card to Richborough Estates for trying to build 600 houses at Cruxton Farm.