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Today (Monday 1 December) North Somerset Council completed the transfer of the management of Horsecastle and Grange Farm play areas in Yatton to Yatton Parish Council.
The move represents a significant step in North Somerset Council's ambition to place more control over local spaces and services directly into the hands of the communities who use and value them most.
Earlier this year, North Somerset announced its intention to begin transferring suitable assets to local Town and Parish Councils, starting with play spaces, allotments and green areas.
With the handover of Horsecastle and Grange Farm play areas, Yatton becomes the first parish council to formally take management of assets under the new ‘Local Devolution’ framework.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council said: “This is a landmark moment and I’m really pleased these play areas will be maintained and managed by the local parish council directly for their communities going forward. By transferring the Horsecastle and Grange Farm play areas to Yatton Parish Council, we are putting the stewardship of valued community spaces into hands that know them best. Our ambition is to build stronger, more resilient communities – and this transfer is exactly the kind of local partnership we envisioned when launching the Local Devolution Programme.”
Yatton Parish Council expressed clear enthusiasm for assuming responsibility for the two play areas, reflecting the parish’s commitment to protecting and enhancing community facilities for the benefit of residents.
By transferring management, North Somerset Council is enabling the parish to make decisions informed by its close understanding of local needs, while also supporting the broader aims of the Local Devolution Programme. Ownership of the site's freeholds will transfer to the Parish Council at a later date once the legal work is completed.
Chris Jackson, Chair of Yatton Parish Council said: “The transfer of the Horsecastle and Grange Farm play areas to Yatton Parish Council ownership will give our local residents the ability to protect these precious green spaces from development. Our award-winning grounds team of Jeff Shipway and Megan Thurgur are sure to make them an even better amenity than they already are."
As part of the handover, responsibility for the maintenance and future management of both play areas will now sit with Yatton Parish Council. The parish is expected to engage with residents as it develops its long-term plans for the sites, with opportunities to explore improvements, investments, and greater community involvement.
Yatton ward Councillors, Steve Bridger and Wendy Griggs, said: “We’d like to thank the Parish Council for really leaning into this opportunity and embracing the spirit of local devolution. Their willingness to take on these two play areas shows genuine commitment to keeping these much-loved spaces at the heart of our community. This partnership approach ensures decisions are made closer to the people they affect, and we’re delighted to see Yatton leading the way.”
The transfer sets an important precedent for future devolution activity across the area, signalling the beginning of a wider programme of asset transfers that will continue over the coming months and years.
As more communities step forward and express interest in taking on assets that matter to them, the North Somerset Council anticipates further announcements as the programme gathers pace.