Peterborough residents to protest over field fencing plans

Plans for the fence around the fields - which have been shared between Ken Stimpson Community School and the community for decades - were approved by Peterborough City Council.

It involves 2.4m weldmesh fencing to surround 46,000 square metres of land and was put forward after safeguarding concerns from the school.

The council has not confirmed a start date for the project, but has said the fencing will cost £73,236.28.

Residents are ‘furious’ at the plans and now campaigners from the ‘Save the Werrington Fields’ group are holding a socially distanced protest against the erection of the fencing on October 23 from 11am until midday at the fields next to Staniland Way.

Resident Martin Williment who lives in Swallowfield, Werrington and has lived in the area since 1992 will be protesting.

He said: “The thought of losing these fields is just awful. Many people use them every day for exercise and mental wellness especially at this awful time. We completely object to this awful fence which is not needed. Werrington is a lovely place to live but if the fence is built it will look like a prison! We are taking action to protest this fence but also asking questions as to why this is happening and why the city council let it go through without contacting us. We the residents are now fed up with the way we are being ignored and it’s time for action.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “The planning application was approved in March 2020 by our planning committee following a standard consultation period. This included an open afternoon and evening for residents, a letter drop to residents facing the open space, posters on lampposts and discussions with local councillors. The concerns of local residents were given detailed consideration.

“Since this time, we have met with residents and discussed their concerns. We have taken account of their views on access to the site by ensuring that the area of land is only unavailable during school opening times and agreeing that we will review the operation of the Community Use Agreement with the local Neighbourhood Council three months after installation of the fence and annually thereafter. The area will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day for booked / free activities during non-school term time and every evening after 5pm and every weekend during school term times. The fence has been designed to be finished in a way that blends into the landscape whilst preventing unauthorised access when pupils are engaged in PE lessons.”

Principal of Ken Stimpson Community School Bryan Erwin said: “When parents send their children to school they rightly expect that they will be kept safe and secure and able to participate in their lessons without fear of being disrupted by passers-by and uninvited visitors. The decision to install a fence was driven by the need to ensure that the KSCS pupils are kept safe during those times that they use a small part of the overall open space in that area for formal sport lessons and activities. The arrangements that will be put in place will strike a balance between the school child safeguarding concerns and the needs of the local community to be able to access a sport and leisure friendly space.”

Campaigner and resident Nyree Ambarchian is still unhappy with the school going ahead with the fence.

Nyree said: “It’s really disheartening. Yes, there was a standard consultation period held. The council and school did the absolute bare minimum they could legally get away with. As local residents and neighbours to the school, we are left wondering why we didn’t deserve more than that? It’s worth noting the ‘consultation’ was held in the run up to Christmas and the planning committee decision was made thirteen days before the UK went into lockdown when everyone was distracted by Covid-19. The reason residents are so angry is that many of them are only finding out about this now, and pressure is building.

“It’s also true that the council met with us to discuss the access arrangements. At that meeting they stated there would be no free access except for constituted groups who book and pay. They dismissed all our suggestions and admitted that older people, those with disabilities, parents with small children, and those with lower incomes would be the hardest hit. Thanks to local pressure, we have fought for greater access. But it’s a hollow victory - all we’ve managed to do is get the council and school to stick to what they originally told us at the consultation - that there would be free and open access to the space outside school hours. It’s a farce. When you unpick the numbers, local people will have access to the area 16% of the time - and we’ll be sharing that time with groups looking to formally book the space.”

“The fence is made of the same material used for prison fencing, and at 2.4metres tall it won’t blend in. It will obliterate one of the most calming and beautiful views in the city at a time when local people need access to green space more than ever.

“This land is public open space; it doesn’t belong to the school. The fence isn’t needed.

“Planning permission has been granted but it’s completely within the power of the school and council to stop this - simply by not installing the fence. Ken Stimpson School already has planning permission for other areas of the public green space which they chose not to go ahead with, we’re asking them to do the same now.

The group has also conducted a survey with nearby residents, which shows that of 190 residents, 83% of them believe Ken Stimpson Community School should drop the word ‘community’ from their name in ‘recognition of the negative treatment of the community’ regarding the fence plans. The group are still running a petition that can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/peterborough-city-council-stop-fencing-off-peterborough-fields

For more information on the protest- there is a Facebook event organised: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/fence-protest-peaceful-and-soc/342569123680931 or go to the Save Werrington Fields campaign group on Facebook.