THEY are new, potentially very costly and Poole Council is making no apology for treating them with kid gloves.

Two applications have been made by residents to turn council-owned land into town greens at Branksome Rec and Baiter, and a third for Broadstone Rec is likely.

It is thought the legal process could cost council taxpayers anywhere between £25,000-£50,000 per application, and if there is a judicial review costs will soar.

While residents are keen for the protection they believe town green status would deliver, Borough of Poole is cautiously evaluating the pros and cons.

“A town green makes a significant difference to the way the land is managed,” said Cllr Don Collier, cabinet portfolio holder for the environment.

He said it may not be able to deliver what the people required for their public open space, such as new tarmac paths.

The council has now acknowledged the Branksome application, but not yet the Baiter one.

Cllr Collier said they were determined to do things properly and officers had been working on them since the day the applications were received.

“We are way ahead of a lot of authorities who haven’t even picked them up and looked at them for two years.”

It will be up to the licensing sub-committee to decide how to deal with the applications.

“The land owning part of the council, which has a duty to manage the land in the best interests of the people of Poole, will make a judgement on whether or not it thinks it’s appropriate to defend the application,” he said.