Humberston Academy car park to double in size and playing field to shrink
PLANNERS TURN DOWN OBJECTIONS IN BID TO REDUCE CONGESTION
PLANNING councillors have backed controversial plans to extend a school car park to create 120 parking spaces.
Humberston Academy sought planning permission from North East Lincolnshire Council to extend the size of their car park by 64 new spaces to 120 spaces.
Councillors approved the bid despite concerns from Humberston Parish Council.
The planning report included their objection. Parish councillors wanted to ensure there is access to the neighbouring Humberston Park Special School for buses taking disabled children to and from their school using the extended car park.
The councillors said that would ease the chronic congestion every day on St Thomas’ Close where buses are frequently held up due to the narrow street and congestion of traffic going to and from the special school and Humberston Cloverfields Academy, with which it shares an entrance.
The volume of traffic using both schools and parents parking near to the entrance adds to the queuing and delays.
Humberston Parish Council said in their report another access from Humberston Academy car park would ease the acute congestion.
But planning councillors approved the plans.
Councillor Tim Mickleburgh, Lab, South, complained it was using up playing field facilities just to extend a car park.
He said it might set a precedent for other schools to use playing fields for a variety of other developments.
Councillors were told there would be no additional electric car charging points.
Humberston Academy already has two full-sized football pitches, two nine-a-side pitches and a seven-a-side pitch, a rugby pitch and cricket wicket and six tennis courts.
The planning report stated: “The comments of Humberston Village Council and their ambition to ease congestion for residents in St Thomas Close, through the use of the proposed car park for a bus and car drop off area with a pedestrian access to Humberston Park School, is noted as positive.
“The Academy has considered this but concluded that it would not be possible from a pupil safety and school security and management viewpoints. Whilst recognising the issues faced by residents due to traffic to adjoining schools, these issues are not of the Academy’s making and it is unable to assist through the current application.”