Residents’ backlash over fencing

Anger as plans to fence off sports pitches and open land are approved

Approved plans for fencing to be placed around three sports pitches in Werrington have caused a backlash in the community which has used the shared green space for decades.

The plans, which were submitted in January this year by Peterborough City Council, were put forward because of safeguarding concerns at Ken StimpsonCommunitySchool.

The s cheme i ncluded erecting 2.4 metre weldmesh fences surrounding all three pitches, blocking in 46,000 square metres of green space. Keen to still offer residents access to the space, the plans included the opportunity for people to book time in the fields. The pitches, which are adjacent to the school off Staniland Way, are onpublicland andcampaignersarecallingit a ‘land grab’.

CampaigngroupSaveWerrington Fields had lodged a complaint with the local government Ombudsman which was not reviewed. With over 600 signatures on an online petition, the group insist the community is against the decision.

Save Werrington Fields’ deputy editor, Jenna Maryniak, (41), said: “Open green spaces are crucial to mental health and physical wellbeing. These spaces are being eroded and it’s so important for the health of future generations that we protect them.

“If we l ose this part of our field it sets a precedent for future land grabs too. If I believed that the school’s fencing was truly needed for safeguarding I could see that a compromise was needed. The evidence does not stack up and unfortunately the whole community is going to lose out. We have exhausted all avenues of official complaint. The council has been the judge, jury and executioner for the unnecessary loss of communityspace. All wehave leftis ourcollective voices and weareurgingeveryonetosign the petition.”

Principal of Ken Stimpson CommunitySchool, BryanErwin, said: “As the principal of the school, I am of the belief that all schools should be free from the threat of anything that may harm anyone.

“Physical education at Ken Stimpson Community School requires the use of outdoor space andthis currently takes place outside the designed school fence perimetre. It should not be accepted that it is tolerable to place young people and staff on a daily basis to uncertainty of danger, nor is it sufficient to claim the school can mitigate all potential risks through any day-to

day management of them.”

Having met with both Mr Erwin and the campaign group, Peterborough MPPaul Bristow hopes the parties can come to an agreement.

He said: “I hope that common sense will prevail and arrangements can be made to allow access to the fields and park, but provide adequate safeguarding for the school.

“It can be done. It j ust needs people to get together and start talking. I would be happy to play my part in making this happen.”

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “A planning application for the change of use of part of the existing school playing fields with current open access to the public, to enclosed school playing fields, with the erection of a 2.4m high fencing, with out of school hours public access was considered andapprovedbytheplanning andenvironmentalprotection committee in March, 2020.

“The supporting information with the application detailed that the development was required to improve the safeguarding of children in the school, when using the outdoor spaces, as currently these areas are not secure spaces. Our education team was also consulted around safeguarding issues as part of this process. The concerns of local residents were given detailed consideration as part of the determination of the application. The committee found the proposed change of use to be acceptable and in accordance with planning policy andsotheproposalwas approved.”

The fences are yet to be erected.

How the fencing will look.