Peterborough residents’ backlash over fencing around green space

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

The planning application stated the site was: “uncontrollable, which poses risks to students during physical education activities.”

The scheme included 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 on public land and campaigners are calling it a ‘land grab’ by the school.

Campaign group Save Werrington Fields had lodged a complaint with the local government Ombudsman which was not reviewed, citing the city council’s planning committee could use their “professional judgement” over whether the benefits outweigh the impact on the community.

With over 600 signatures on an online petition and large social media presence, 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 lose 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.

“I’ve been shocked to see how easily the laws protecting open spaces can be sidestepped with no independent oversight. Given the impact of Coronavirus and social distancing, the fields are now busier than ever.”

She continued: “We have exhausted all avenues of official complaint. The council has been the judge, jury and executioner for the unnecessary loss of community space. All we have left is our collective voices and we are urging everyone to sign the petition, and write to the MP, the headmaster of Ken Stimpson and the head of the council to make their views heard.”

Principal of Ken Stimpson Community School, Bryan Erwin, maintained that students’ safety was the main priority.

He 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 and this 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 MP Paul 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 just 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 and approved by the planning and environmental protection 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 and so the proposal was approved.”

The fences are yet to be erected.