Unauthorised Survey

You’ll probably have caught the news today that two surveyors with a drone showed up on Carver Fields, Crosspool, causing a lot of concern and speculation for people who saw them.

This prompted a local councillor to contact the Methodist Circuit, the field’s owners, who confirmed that the land has not been sold and there are definitely no plans to sell it.

While in the field, the local councillor took the opportunity to speak directly with the surveyors to understand their purpose. Around the same time, a representative from the Methodist Church arrived. He holds responsibility for overseeing all buildings and assets within the local area, meaning any decision to sell the land would require his review and approval. Furthermore, he is the individual who must authorise any applications for commercial drone flights over Methodist-owned property—something he had unequivocally not authorised.

His presence reinforced the concerns surrounding the unauthorised survey, prompting further inquiries into who commissioned the drone operation and what their intentions might be. The surveyors, however, refused to disclose this information. In response, the Methodist representative firmly yet politely asked them to pack up their equipment and leave the site, which they did.

The situation has raised broader questions about why the land was surveyed without proper authorisation and what implications this might have. While social media speculation has fuelled rumours of a potential sale or housing development, there is currently no indication that the landowners have entered into any such discussions or plans. The matter remains under investigation as efforts continue to identify the third party responsible for commissioning the survey.

Unauthorised surveys can create suspicion and concern among local residents, leading to misinformation and unnecessary panic, as in the case of Carver Fields.