Community group raises concerns over delaying protection of popular Leamington Park

Victoria Park was opened as a 'people’s park' in 1899 and has remained a prime site for family recreation ever since. However, at various times the park has been threatened by developments.

The Friends of Victoria Park is continuing to campaign for Warwick District Council to agree a 'Deed of Dedication' with Fields in Trust - a UK charity that works to protect parks and green spaces - to ensure that any potential plans could be stopped.

The Friends of Victoria Park have said: “Three years ago, Warwick District Council enjoyed the glory of launching a fabulous new play

area in Victoria Park.

“Now, its reputation among thousands of park users is not so glorious.

"Aside from the unfortunate debacle of the enforced closure of the new paddling pool, after just two weeks and five days of extraordinary popularity, comes the continuing delay in providing “protection in perpetuity” for Leamington’s most popular park.”

The Friends of Victoria Park first requested a Fields in Trust Deed of Dedication for the park in 2019 and saw significant progress in achieving this in 2021.

The Friends say they have now learned that the district council has again pushed back discussion of providing this protection for Leamington’s green spaces by more than five months.

This is after the council claimed at the start of September that “A report on this matter is scheduled to go to cabinet.”

Nearly 3,000 councils throughout the UK have already formed legal agreements with Fields in Trust.

The councils retain ownership and management of their parks but major new developments outside the normal use of the parks have to be approved by Fields in Trust.

So while public recreation would carry on as normal in Victoria Park any proposals for major structural developments from a new, and less sympathetic, council leadership might be blocked.

David Adams, Chair of the Friends, explained: “Mid 2026 is scheduled to herald major changes to the composition of local authorities in Leamington and Warwick when central Government announce their decision on the structure of the forthcoming Unitary Authority in Warwickshire.

"Whichever option is chosen, the change will require the disbandment of our district council.”

“It would be particularly disappointing if , shortly after that, groups of ex-councillors look back on their failure to take their opportunity to support the local green spaces that they should have protected.”

“Also, it’s worth noting that the recent Clarendon by-election was won by the candidate who was most forthcoming in supporting the case for Victoria Park obtaining a Fields in Trust Deed.”

In response, Warwick District Council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhood, Councillor Will Roberts has said: “It is vitally important that the council protects all of its green spaces.

“Recently the Cabinet received a briefing on the Fields in Trust from officers.

"This has led to further work on developing and extending Fields in Trust to all green spaces in the district, it is expected that a report/paper will be brought to Cabinet in the first quarter of 2026.”