Norfolk Council’s decision to not go ahead with selling off a portion of Percy Ryerse Park in Port Dover was met with applause from the gathered public.
After hearing the news that a portion of the park could be turned into housing, a big movement took place to save the land.
Those who spoke at council argued to keep it from a few different avenues.
John Hagerman asked councillors to put themselves in the shoes of homeowners in the area.
Meg Palermo painted a picture of what life was like at the park for families.
And Matt Palermo then argued that from a moral and legal point, this should be kept as parkland as it was intended.
Councillor Adam Veri asked Staff if the lawyers had seen the deed, and the wording that it remain a park forever? Staff confirmed that all documents had been given to the lawyers.
The county’s lawyers confirmed that there was nothing stopping the county from selling the land or a portion of it. Prior to the vote Councillor Veri asked his fellow councillors to consider the original intentions of Mr. Ryerse.
In the end morality won out. Council voted in favour of removing Percy Ryerse Park from a list of lands up for potential sale.
Written by Jeremy Hall and Matt LeBlanc