Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Residents oppose Arden sports pitch plan

RESIDENTS have objected to a bid by Arden school to enlarge a proposed sports facility on its field.

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Ten have opposed the plan to put a 94m by 37m “multi-use games area” (MUGA) next to the school, for six tennis or five netball courts and running track with long jump pit.

One objection said: “No public consultations were carried out by the school which nearly
deceived neighbours.”

Another said they did not expect the school to abide by planning conditions, which would demand it could be used from 8am to 6pm on weekdays only.

Objections also said the scheme would have a “detrimental impact” on neighbours’ views and cause a noise nuisance.

The school has Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council permission for a similar facility to go at the end of the field.

Unlike the previous plan, the new facility would be for the school’s use only and would not be open to others.

A bridleway that would have run from the school to the bottom of the field is no longer proposed.

A council officer’s report recommends councillors this week approve the proposal.

It says a proposed dark green perimeter fence around the MUGA would “reduce its visual prominence”.

It can be built on the Green Belt as policies allow sport and recreation facilities, it adds.

Sport England backed the plans.

Yet the report reveals the school previously rejected using the site as it was “close to neighbours” and would result in the loss of part of the pitch.

The school previously said the bottom of the field was ideal as it was rarely used.

But the report says “at no point” was the site nearest the school considered “unduly harmful to neighbour amenity due to it being close to neighbours”.

It acknowledges, however, that the bottom of the field “would have a better relationship with neighbouring dwellings”

The report concludes: “The proposed scheme would provide improved sporting facilities for the benefit of the academy.”

The council’s planning committee will be asked to make a decision on the plan on Thursday at 4.30pm at the council’s Solihull offices. The public can attend.

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