Compromise reached on access to playing fields

Nearly 100 people turned out to hear proposals for restoring public access to Oakwood Park.

A meeting was held last Thursday at Oakwood Park Grammar; one of two schools, along with St Augustine Academy, which fenced off their playing fields last year.

The Oakwood Park Community Group has spent the past six months talking to the schools to find a compromise.

The group’s trustee, Brian Flinders, said they had now reached an outline proposal: The fence would remain, but there would be access for the community out of school hours, including evenings, weekends and school holidays.

Access will be through self-closing gates in the fence nearest to Oakwood Road using an electronic key fob obtainable from the group on payment of a yearly subscription of a suggested £20.

A dog-walking path would be created around the periphery, demarcated by a chestnut rail and a hedge. Dog walkers will be encouraged to help with litter picks.

The group will now work to raise the estimated £12,000 needed to pay for the fob system and fencing.

Equally important, KCC and the schools would put in place protective covenants over the playing fields for the freeholders of properties in Oakwood Road, providing a long-term guarantee the fields would not be developed for housing.

Mr Flinders said: “I am really pleased and looking forward to being able to go to there and listen to nightingales singing in the trees again.”

Fant ward councillor Paul Harper (Labour) said: “This is a great compromise: the needs of the schools to safeguard pupils can be met at the same time as getting community access back. It’s a real victory of common sense.”

The meeting unanimously voted to support the proposals.

As a sign of good faith, the community group has put on hold its application to have the land registered as a village green, a scheme giving protection for sites used by the community or for recreation.