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SCC statement on Cobnar Cottage

Graves Park
Graves Park

Legal proceedings were brought to the High Court on Tuesday 12 February on behalf of the Friends of Graves Park, relating to Sheffield City Council's decision (in its capacity as charity trustee of Graves Park) to sell Cobnar Cottage.

On Friday 15 February the High Court Judge dismissed the claim and ordered that the claimant (Friends of Graves Park) pay the defendant's (Sheffield City Council) costs.

A Sheffield City Council spokesperson said:

“It is regrettable that we found ourselves in the High Court defending the Council’s decision to sell Cobnar Cottage. However, we are pleased that, after careful consideration of the evidence and legal arguments put to him, the High Court judge found that the Council had acted fully in accordance with its legal duties and responsibilities in the sale of the cottage.

“We surveyed a large number of park users before coming to any decision and 80 percent of them supported the idea of selling the cottage and investing the proceeds into their park. Every penny from the proceeds of the sale of Cobnar Cottage has already been invested into improving Graves Park and has enabled us to upgrade the field shelters at our Animal Farm, improve play facilities, upgrade the toilets and contributed to the refurbishments of the tennis courts.

“As trustees of Graves Park we always act in the best interests of the park and its visitors to make sure we can maintain high standards and wherever possible we will continue to invest in our parks for the benefit of our communities.

“The Council has been put to some cost in defending the legal proceedings taken against it by the Friends of Graves Park. We will be looking to recover a significant proportion of those costs from the Friends Group.”  

Download a copy of the sealed order Dewar v Sheffield CC sealed order 15 Feb 19.