A LONG-running battle over whether a sports field should be declared a village green or not has ended in success for a local football club.

After many years of wrangling, a public inquiry inspector has now found that the Earls Orchard football ground, near Sleegill, Richmond, does not meet the criteria to become a village green.

Tensions started building in 2008 when Richmond Town Football Club - which calls the Earls Orchard ground its home – erected a fence around the pitch to stop dogs fouling and to help with crowd control.

Some local dog walkers were angry that they were restricted in where they could walk on the ground – and in 2010 an application was made to have the land registered as a village green.

Richmondshire District Council – which leases the land to the football club – had opposed the plans for Earls Orchard after local resident, Derek Clark, asked North Yorkshire County Council - in its role as the commons registration authority - to declare the land a village green.

Mr Clark led the protestors who said the football field should not be fenced off and that local people should be able to use the site for all sports and recreation.

The request for registration was first submitted in February 2010 but the protracted decision has included a three day public inquiry last summer, after a North Yorkshire County Council planning sub-committee heard both sides of the argument but were unable to make a decision in 2011.

The inquiry inspector, Stephen Morgan of Landmark Chambers, London, finally concluded that the proposal did not meet the criteria needed to establish green status after looking in detail at the legalities of the bid.

Richmondshire District Council corporate director Callum McKeon said: “We are very pleased that this long-running saga is now at an end and that we have secured the future of this location for the development of the sporting talents of our local young people.”

The chairman of Richmond Town Football Club, Stephen Andrews, added: “Richmond Town Football Club would like to thank all at Richmondshire District Council for their support throughout this lengthy dispute.

“The club would also like to thank those who assisted in terms of giving evidence at the inquiry.

“Our hope now is that the club and its 16 teams can move forwards and continue to enjoy this wonderful facility.”