A ROW has broken out over the district council’s decision not to transfer the ownership of Alcester Nature Reserve to the town council.

On November 7, the Stratford District Council’s cabinet dismissed the proposal to transfer the freehold of the land to Alcester Town Council.

The Conservative chairman of Stratford District Council Susan Adams and two Conservative colleagues Mike Gittus and Eric Payne, who all live in and around the town, responded by using a procedure known as the 'call in', meaning the decision will be subject to further debate.

The notice said that councillors felt the decision was made "on the fly" and was "dismissed casually without debate".

They also state that this decision would make it difficult to persuade Alcester Town Council to fund restoration works at the reserve or monument sites presently owned by the district council.

The councillors, alongside residents, have slammed the decision, stating they will use the scrutiny process to hopefully force a U-turn.

Former district councillor and resident Susan Juned, who supported the original decision to set up the reserve in the 90s, said: "This has been an extraordinary decision.

"I want to see the site preserved and properly maintained along with the adjoining land for the benefit of Alcester residents.

"The site has rare plants and is a very special green corridor in the centre of the town. We have to ensure that none of this area is put at risk of development in the future."

Stratford-on-Avon District Council councillor Hazel Wright (Liberal Democrat) added: "The Alcester Conservatives are feeling angry and are ready to take on a fight with their fellow Conservatives.

She added: "Over the years local Alcester people and Councillors of all persuasions have worked tirelessly to ensure that Alcester Nature Reserve is in public ownership.

"All the Alcester Town Council was asking, was to take responsibility and plan the future care of it.

"The chairman of the council and her fellow Conservative councillors could not believe that their colleagues the rulers of Stratford District Council on the face of it without advice from officers decided to make a fundamental change.

"Nor could they understand that a scheme of importance to the area without debate could be so casually dismissed.

"They described it as an extraordinary decision and have asked for the decision taken by their colleagues to be reconsidered."

Stratford District Council’s overview and scrutiny committee is set to re-look at the cabinet decision today (Wednesday, November 30).

A Stratford District Council spokesman said: "As this decision has now been called in it would be inappropriate to make a comment on this decision until after the overview and scrutiny committee."