A VILLAGE car park, which was closed after a row between the landowner and a church council, has reopened after talks resumed between the two parties.

A tree trunk was placed across the entrance to the car park next to All Saints' Church, in Church Lane, Huntington, only days before Christmas after rent negotiations between the church council and landowner Roger Bowling broke down. The church council had been paying a peppercorn rent of £10 a year in order to use the private car park.

But Mr Bowling sent a letter to the church council warning that ongoing re-negotiations on the amount of rent paid each year must reach a conclusion or he would block access to the site.

Just before Christmas, the tree trunk was placed across the entrance, forcing churchgoers and other users, who had been allowed to use the site by the church council, to find alternative parking.

Now a new lease is being drawn up after a churchwarden approached Mr Bowling asking for talks to resume.

Mr Bowling said he had arranged to have the tree trunk removed yesterday afternoon. The Rector of Huntington, the Rev John Davies, said he was glad that a reasonable rent was now being negotiated.

He said: "The figure hasn't yet been discussed, but it's a reasonable amount. We could understand Mr Bowling becoming frustrated, and we needed to get it sorted.

"We are glad that the whole matter is being resolved to the satisfaction of all involved."

Mr Bowling confirmed that talks had taken place and the car park was to re-open immediately, before the new lease was drawn up.

He said: "I had nothing against the church having it as a car park, but I needed a reasonable contribution towards it."

Updated: 11:38 Saturday, January 12, 2002