VILLAGERS in Hagley are launching a bid to raid the coffers of a neighbouring parish council after 1,400 people were transferred into their boundary from Clent.

A petition is being raised urging Hagley councillors to put in a claim for some of an estimated £100,000 held by Clent Parish Council, built up over many years.

Campaigners from Hagley Residents Association celebrated last month when Bromsgrove District Council approved a boundary review to transfer people living on the edge of their village, who used to be part of Clent parish, into their fold.

Members of the group had complained that around 500 households classed as being in Clent, but only a stone's throw from their village, were getting free use of Hagley Library and other local services.

In a local poll of residents living in the affected area, 992 out of 1,315 voted in favour of shifting the boundary so that they were officially in Hagley, rather than Clent.

The border had existed since the mid 19th century but, following the residents' group's petition, Hagley Parish Council (HPC) submitted plans for the boundary review.

Around 200 people have now signed a petition being collected by Peter Rowbottom, of Kidderminster Road South, Hagley, calling on Hagley Parish Council to claim some of the cash collected over the years from residents in the area now taken away from Clent.

Mr Rowbottom, who is one of the parishioners whose home has moved from Clent to Hagley, said: "Dozens of local people I have spoken to in the past fortnight - especially those in the area being transferred over to Hagley, feel that Hagley Parish Council should be representing their interests and making a claim for some of Clent Parish Council's financial reserves.

"This is on the basis that at least some of those reserves are due directly to payments made in previous years by villagers who are moving parishes.

"Bromsgrove District Council have confirmed to me that the issue of any potential transfer of reserves is a matter for both parish councils to agree on and government guidance also lists financial reserves as an asset that can be transferred as part of any formal agreement.

"I have started a petition, which already has 200 signatures, and that directly requests HPC make a formal claim for a fair amount of those reserves.

"I will be presenting the petition to Hagley Parish Council ahead of their next meeting on December 7."

Mr Rowbottom added that Clent Parish Council had refused to tell him the amount of financial reserves it holds but he believes it could be as much as £100,000.

Bromsgrove Councillor Steve Colella (correct), who is also chairman of Hagley Parish Council, said he was due to meet senior members of Clent Parish Council and representatives from the district council on Wednesday (Nov 25) night as part of discussions about the transfer of assets, such as notice boards and street lights, following the boundary change.

But he added that his understanding of the law on the subject was that Hagley would not be able to claim financial reserves from Clent Parish Council.

"We never set out to take reserves out of Clent - we wanted to draw a new line between the parish councils," said Councillor Colella.

But he added that, if a petition was raised, it would be considered by Hagley Parish Council's meeting on December 7.

Councillor Nick Sugden, chairman of Clent Parish Council, refused to comment about the issue.