Chasewater. Pic: Robin Stott and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Chasewater will not be sold, a county councillor has vowed.

There had been rumours locally that the site could be up for sale.

But Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Mark Winnington, insisted a sale was not being considered.

Cllr Mark Winnington
Cllr Mark Winnington

“At the moment we are simply looking at the best way to manage sites across the area.

“We have been discussing these ideas, publicly, since 2014. Currently we’re talking to those groups with an interest in the country parks and the intention is we will have a full public consultation later this year.

“The process has been completely open and will continue to be so.”

The rumours had been fuelled by a review document which highlighted an option to sell-off sites.

But Cllr Winnington said the reports had been misunderstood.

“There are lots of ideas under discussion and what may work for one site, will not work for another,” he said. “Sensibly, within the report, there’s an option to sell off sites which are of no benefit to the public.

“We fully expect the only interest for these sites to be from community user groups and parish councils.

“I reiterate that Chasewater will not be sold.”

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