A 99-year lease to keep a field safe from development has been signed after a weekly newspaper’s 18-month campaign.

As previously reported on HTFP, the Cambs Times had successfully campaigned to save Estover playing field, in March, from being sold off by Cambridgeshire County Council for housing.

The lease means the field will continue to be permanently used as a playing field and sports facility.

Times Editor John Elworthy admitted to being “discreetly jubilant” after the lease was signed.

A front page from October 2014 highlighting the campaign

He said: “Never a good idea to rub councillors’ noses in the mud. Let’s keep the celebrations muted shall we?”

In July 2014 the leader of the county council, Steve Count, staged a public meeting in March to unveil proposals that would have seen half the land sold for housing and a contribution made to the town to secure some sporting facilities on the remainder.

However the Times launched it ‘Hands Off Estover’ campaign, won widespread support from the community for its effort, and just before Christmas last year John called and chaired a packed public meeting to denounce the county council leader’s proposals and instead lobby for a new scheme to include all the land being used for sport.

Weeks later a vote at the hung council at Shire Hall, Cambridge, paved the way for a change.

A deputation went from March to Cambridge – headed by the town mayor – to see the vote cast in favour of the town council being given the land.

John added: “And I was in the market square on their, successful, return with trays of wine to toast the U-turn.

“One more public meeting is planned for next month – to elect the committee that will now run and manage it. Job done.”