The cases for and against the Therfield Heath land swap are now available to read at Royston Library, ahead of the public inquiry due to commence next month.

The impending inquiry comes after the Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens applied to deregister land near Briary Lane and Sun Hill and sell it off to a housing developer for a possible £1 million profit to be reinvested into the site.

Under the plans they would swap the land with a patch of similar size near Therfield’s New Road – a move subject to heavy criticism.

Submissions from the applicant are available via red files and the objectors’ case is in the blue files at the library in Market Hill.

These documents will be used at the inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate and will be instrumental in the decision-making process.

In the inquiry, which will be held at Coombes Community Centre in Burns Road from January 30, statements will be heard from the applicant, supporters and objectors as well as evidence from witnesses – who will be subject to cross-examination.

In total, seven days have been allocated for the case – which is open to the public – from Tuesday to Friday, January 30 to February 2, and Monday to Wednesday, February 6 to 8, generally from 10am to 5pm each day.