Prue objects to school’s plans for a playing field

BAKE Off’s Prue Leith has objected to a school’s plan to install a hockey pitch and playing field near her home in the Cotswolds.

The TV judge is trying to block proposals which Kitebrook Preparatory School say will “increase grassroots sport development”.

But Prue, 81, has raised concerns regarding the heritage of the site near the border of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire and its effect on local fields.

She initially wrote an objection to the proposals for a hockey pitch with 15m-high floodlights at Kitebrook Preparatory School in June.

Since then the proposals have continued to attract critical responses on the West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) planning portal.

In her second objection comment, Ms Leith said: “I have since discovered that the proposed site is an ancient ridge and furrow field which would be destroyed if planning is granted.

“We are extremely lucky to be one of the few places in England with glorious ridge and furrow fields dating from medieval times.

“It would be not just a crying shame, but an absolute crime to destroy a patch of ridge and furrow, let alone a huge field.

“I live about a quarter of a mile from the proposed playing fields and, though I understand the need for sports facilities for children, I think, in spite of the alterations to the original plan, that the proposed development is much too large.”

Ms Leith says the “most important problem” would be the “run-off of rainwater”.

She adds that her land already suffers from frequent flooding and that it “cannot take any more water”.

Ms Leith’s comment added: “Grass pitches would not be a problem, or artificial grass laid on free draining subsoil, but an all-weather surface of such dimensions is unreasonable.

“Next, why does the school need multiple large pitches? Prep school children cannot play on full size pitches.

“One of the joys of living in a rural setting is the dark night skies so I was pleased to see that the proposed stadium lights are not to be.

“But is there anything to stop the school adding the lights at a later date? Who would police that?”

A spokesperson for Ms Leith said she would be offering ‘no comment’.

Since Ms Leith’s original objection comment, Evenlode Parish Council has also objected in a consultee comment.

The council’s comment said: “The proposals will have an adverse impact on this village in terms of flooding from the run-off which an artificial landscape will generate.

“The proposals do not demonstrate any wider benefit to the particular rural economy in the vicinity.”

Tara Hayek, WODC’s senior conservation and design officer, had no objection in her consultee comment.

The comment read: “The scheme, including design, materials, etc are appropriate and the applicant has considered the current landscape character and setting of the heritage assets, working with the existing terrain and contours to ensure that views and settings are preserved so that the facility blends into its surrounds.”

To view the planning application, search the WODC planning application portal using the reference number 21/01456/FUL.