As the fate of historic Cobnar Cottage in Graves Park hangs in the balance, local campaigners are issuing a ‘call to arms’ in what could be the biggest battle yet over the cottage’s future.

Sheffield’s Labour Cabinet gave the go-ahead in March to apply to the Charity Commission with a scheme that would see the cottage and land sold off to the highest bidder.

But Liberal Democrat councillors ‘called-in’ Labour’s decision to delay the sell-off and get the Council to look at alternatives.

The decision is set to be debated by councillors on Wednesday, 24th June at 9.30 am in the Town Hall. Details of the meeting can be found here.

Meanwhile, local campaigners who fear the decision will set a precedent for future sell-offs are urging local residents to turn up to put questions at the start of the meeting.

They are also urging people to write to the Charities Commission.

Cobnar Cottage is owned by the Graves Park charity and lies on charitable land within the bounds of the park itself – gifted by J. G. Graves back in 1925.

If the Charity Commission agree, the Council will be able to push through their plan to sell both the cottage and land at auction.

Cllr Ian Auckland said:

As trustees of the Graves Park charity, the Council failed to look after historic Cobnar Cottage. Their neglect of the cottage may have cost our local park tens of thousands of pounds. The Council has no right to sell the property, because the land – must remain parkland forever and not be sold.

We have put our views clearly to the Charities Commission. Thanks to people writing already, the Charity Commission have been persuaded and now insist they won’t give permission unless the Council puts forward a formal scheme.

Cllr Steve Ayris added:

The Lib Dems’ firm position on both Cobnar Cottage and the Norton Nurseries site is the same as it is for any part of the park. This is charitable parkland and the covenants state clearly that it cannot be sold.”

Support for the campaign has soared, with hundreds of local residents objecting to the sale, by signing the Lib Dem petition or writing direct to the Council or Kier or the Charity Commission.

Write NOW to the Charity Commission at:- 

Charity Support Division,
Charity Commission for England and Wales,
2nd Floor, 20 King’s Parade,
Queen’s Dock,
Liverpool L3 4DQ

or email them at: fcemailteam@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk

You can also sign our petition by clicking on this link.

3 things you can do this coming week to help save Cobnar Cottage…

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