Middlezoy residents hoping to bring their playing fields and village hall back into parish ownership have been told there will be a wait because Somerset Council lacks the staff to process the transfer promptly. The asset, on Nethermoor Road, was transferred by Middlezoy Parish Council to the former Sedgemoor District Council in 1979 and passed to Somerset Council when district councils were abolished in April 2023.
Why the transfer is delayed
The parish has pressed for the return of the site as part of Somerset Council’s wider push for greater devolution of local services. Although Middlezoy already manages the playing fields under a lease, council officers say there is a large number of outstanding devolution and asset transfer requests from across the county and limited staff to deal with them. That backlog means parishes cannot "leapfrog" one another; requests are considered in turn rather than on perceived local urgency.
At the full council meeting in Bridgwater on 15 July, resident Anthony Betty raised the issue, asking why Middlezoy should be made to wait despite managing the site and offering to meet legal costs. He told councillors the parish council wishes to simplify management and reduce local costs by taking ownership.
"The parish council already manages the site through a lease and wishes to bring the playing field and village hall into common ownership, to simplify management and reduce costs for the local community."
- Asset history: transferred to Sedgemoor District Council in 1979; responsibility moved to Somerset Council in April 2023.
- Parish position: already manages the site under lease; willing to pay legal costs for a transfer.
- Council constraint: numerous similar requests countywide and insufficient staff to prioritise transfers.
What this means for Middlezoy
Practically, the parish will continue to operate the playing fields under the existing lease arrangement. The council has indicated this lease provides "reasonable security of tenure", which is part of the reason the transfer has not been prioritised. The parish’s case emphasises potential benefits of local ownership: streamlined management and reduced costs for users of the village hall and sports facilities.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Playing fields transferred to Sedgemoor District Council |
| April 2023 | Asset passed to Somerset Council after district abolition |
| July 2026 | Parish requests transfer; council confirms backlog prevents prioritisation |
The council has been asked to publish a clear timetable for resolving outstanding requests; residents want clarity on when, or if, transfers like Middlezoy’s will be considered. For now, the main change is administrative: ownership remains with Somerset Council while day-to-day management stays with the parish under lease terms.
Locally, the issue highlights the tensions that can arise during large-scale reorganisation of local government, where councils are expected to devolve services but face practical limits in officer capacity. Middlezoy’s case will be one to watch as other parishes pursue similar transfers.
