ONE of Alton's open spaces looks set to gain a new lease of life as a place for families to walk their dogs, fly kites, picnic and enjoy the natural environment without the fear of being trampled by livestock.

As the last of the coloured horses was loaded onto a lorry at Windmill Hill on Tuesday, Alton Town Council's recreation committee voted to leave the grass to recover until the spring and to use the time to decide a way forward which would make the land more accessible to the public.

The thinking was in line with an 84-signature petition, drawn up by local residents and regular users of the area, urging Alton Town Council to cease livestock grazing and return land at Windmill Hill to its natural state for the enjoyment of families and dog walkers.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.