A well-loved public garden in the centre of Penrith has lost important legal protection as an asset of community value after Penrith Town Council failed to ensure the gardens community asset status was renewed before the protection expired a date known for the last five years by the town council.

Coronation Gardens, on Portland Place, has been removed from the Westmorland and Furness Council register of assets of community value as the five-year registration expired on Monday (19th January). The removal of the community asset protection took effect today (Tuesday 20th January), leaving the gardens without the extra safeguards that helped protect them for the community.

The gardens were added to the register as a community asset in 2021 following a nomination by Penrith Town Council, which was agreed by the former Eden District Council executive. At the time, members of the town council said the gardens “provide a community space and area for social wellbeing”.

Registering land or buildings as an asset of community value gives local people a legal opportunity to intervene if the asset is put up for sale. The community is allowed time to raise funds and attempt to buy the asset, helping to ensure valued public spaces remain in community use.

However, assets of community value are only protected for five years. If they are not renominated before the expiry date, they are automatically removed from the register and all protection as a community asset is lost.

Despite the importance of Coronation Gardens and the clear time limit on the registration, no renewal nomination was made by the town council. As a result of the removal from the register, the land that is home to the gardens could, should the owner wish now be sold or disposed of without any requirement for the community to be notified or given a chance to secure their future.

In April, further community assets in Penrith are due to be removed from the register, including Penrith Town Hall and the Tourist Information Centre and Museum. These sites were also nominated as assets of community value in 2021 by previous members of Penrith Town Council.

The Town Council has been asked for comment as to why expiry dates were not monitored, and why renewal paperwork was not prepared in good time to provide ongoing protection of the community assets.

Local group Evolve Penrith has said that it will step in and “trying to secure renewed protection for the important community assets if the town council fails to act urgently to secure the future protection of key assets in the town”.