Over the last eight years, HGCA has transformed the abandoned former bowling green in Elvet into a thriving community garden and public park. As Durham County Council acknowledged in January 2025:

“The former bowling green and surrounding area would not be the pleasant, well-kept environment that it is without the work undertaken by members and supporters of HGCA and for this, on behalf of Durham County Council – thank you for your fantastic work.”

Despite this recognition, the community has been denied the opportunity to present its plans and systematically blocked from securing any formal rights over the grounds. Earlier this year, HGCA sought to register the site as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) to protect it under the Localism Act 2011. This would have required the Council to meet with us before any disposal plans could proceed. However, the Council’s own system requires a postal address, one that the park did not have until recently, when the Council quietly split the asset in two, effectively preventing our ACV nomination.

Durham City MP Mary Foy has made multiple attempts to contact the Council to arrange the meeting that HGCA were told would be arranged by the Community Economic Development (CED) back in the spring. Unfortunately, no meeting has ever materialised, and our attempts to communicate with the Council about this issue have all been ignored.

“I believe that the vision that HGCA have outlined to me offers a real opportunity to revitalise this part of the riverbank, offer a new facility of real community value and save the local authority further money”

“It would tie together the work that HGCA has already done in tidying up this part of the city and leave the former public convenience building in the hands of custodians who want to ensure the continued community use and development of this area, rather than simply a limited retail unit“ 

- Mary Kelly Foy, Durham City MP -

These obstructions are compounded by the Council’s failed consultation process earlier this year, which excluded any meaningful community input. Thankfully, HGCA and the local community were able to stop the proposed outdoor gym that would have destroyed the park, protecting it for future public use. Yet the Council have now put a large section of the park up for sale – once again threatening the future of the park and without meeting with HGCA even once.

While HGCA are preparing a robust bid under the current process, the Council’s repeated mishandling of this valuable community asset, its disregard for the wishes of the local community, its approach towards HGCA, and the complete lack of transparency in the process have undermined confidence in the Council’s ability to manage a fair and lawful disposal process.

HGCA has invested time, energy, and resources since 2017 to transform, maintain, and enhance the area. Without our ongoing commitment and stewardship, there would be no asset for the Council to profit from. HGCA deserves a chance to present its community-backed proposals, and we demand a formal meeting with the Council before any further disposal decisions are made.

We call on Durham County Council to formally recognise the contributions HGCA have made, not merely as volunteers, but as the rightful stewards of this valuable community space, and to ensure its future reflects the needs and wishes of the local community.

Please sign and share the petition, and email your objections to the Council's plans to sell the land without consulting with HGCA to CED@durham.gov.uk

Visit our Facebook page for more details and to see images of the park's transformation over the years.

Thank you for your support
HGCA