Stansted: Parish council votes against hiring out its public open spaces to businesses

Hiring out Stansted’s public open spaces to businesses has been ruled out by the parish council.

Members of last week’s open spaces committee were considering whether or not they agreed in principle with the idea following an approach from a yoga business to hire an area on the Recreation Ground for classes.

“They were willing to pay rent to the parish for the use of that space, but I’m looking for guidance from this committee as to whether it is a good idea or not?” said committee chair Cllr Alan Barnes.

The meeting heard that historically the council was prevented from accepting money for public open space.

Cllr Fran Richards said: “Is it right to take that area from people at the very time they need it most? Over the 40 years I have been a parish councillor, it has always been accepted that you cannot charge for fee-paying activities on public open spaces.”

Cllr Ayub Khan added: “Also, what groups do you hire out to? Are you going to allow political parties, unsavoury character groups? Open spaces are for public consumption, I can see problems, but I do not know the answer.”

Following a proposal by the chair, the committee voted against the principle of hiring out public open spaces.