A NEW community land trust is likely to press ahead with buying land for affordable homes in Pinchbeck.
At its meeting on Monday, Pinchbeck Parish Council heard how a steering group has been set up to drive plans forward after a “lively” public meeting where residents had a chance to find out more about the scheme.
Pinchbeck Community Land Trust would be the latest in Lincolnshire set up to access Government funding to buy land for new homes and possibly other community-run facilities such as shops, pubs, workspaces and allotments.
The parish council is likely to sell off some of its agricultural land for the project.
Parish council chairman Coun Andrew Bowser said: “It is clear to me that they will make us an offer for part of our land.
“I really think something will come from it, and that will be affordable homes.
“At the start of the public meeting you had all these people saying ‘no’ to affordable housing but at the end of it only two of about 70 said they were still against it.
“The other 68 really wanted it, so I think it will all work out in the end but the birth could be a bit.”
Coun Chris Bettinson added: “They have a good developer involved and we have the land, so they only need to get the money and it should be relatively simple – there shouldn’t be too many hoops to jump through.”
But members were told that one complication could be that a couple of people who put themselves forward for the steering committee are opposed to the plans.
They were also asked to offer assistance to the fledgling group while it accesses available funds to get off the ground.
Clerk to the council Barbara Camps said she had been contacted as the steering committee needed help with the cost of hall hire for meetings, as well as such things as stationery.
Members agreed to allow the group to use its stationery and parish office when necessary and Lincolnshire county councillor Steve Williams said he may be willing to provide some cash from his designated budget if someone contacted him.