Resolution to long-running Werrington Fields dispute approved

During an evening of high emotion at Sand Martin House on March 24, Peterborough City Council’s executive voted through plans that will see a large tract of land around Ken Stimpson Academy fenced off and leased to the school.

The land, which is about the size of about eight football pitches and has come to be known as Werrington Fields, has been available for public use for the past 45 years.

However, the Cabinet’s decision yesterday evening will see the vast majority of that land (known as Area C) now become part of the Ken Stimpson site. The school is part of the 4Cs Academy Trust, which maintains it needs the land for sports provision, and that the area must be properly fenced off to safeguard pupils.

Supporters of the ‘Save Werrington Fields’ campaign group attended the cabinet meeting looking to put pressure on the Cabinet to consider a reprieve:

Werrington councillor John Fox has been a fierce advocate for the fields remaining open to the public since the dispute began raging in 2019.

He said it was “vital” that the views of Werrington residents were considered before any final determination is made,” and speculated that a matter of this magnitude should be considered not solely by Cabinet but by Full Council.

He also speculated how the decision would affect public access to the associated library and sports centre, as well as the nearby MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) which he reminded members was “on public land and paid for by the public.”

As he finished up his address, Cllr Fox invited members to “think hard before you vote today.”

“If we get this wrong,” he added, “the residents of Werrington will be the ones who will suffer in the long-term.”

Councillor Katy Cole, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, described the proposed solution as “an opportunity to move forward” on an issue “the council has been grappling with for way too long.”

She explained that the resolution will see the creation of a lease between the council and the 4Cs Academy Trust for the Area C playing fields, but that it would also exclude a strip of land around the periphery that will be retained by the council for community use, such as dog walking.

“More of a compromise than has been offered before,” she said, this public use land will be “an unfenced perimeter that measures 10 metres to the eastern boundary; 15.5 metres to the south, and 20 metres to the west.”

She also highlighted that the council will enter into a new Community Use Agreement with the Trust that will enable Area C to be used by the community at specified times after school and at weekends.

‘Save Werrington Fields’ campaigner Jan Forster countered both those points: “I would like to know how the Cabinet think that a narrow 10-15 metre strip of land bordered on one side by a 2 metre weld mesh fence, and on the other side by a hedge or bushes, qualifies as an open space for public and amenity use, and how it could possibly have a positive effect on the health and well being of regular users.”

She also took issue with the Community Use Agreement, highlighting the fact residents will only be able to use the land under the terms of it being “solely pre-booked and charged for formal sports matches.”

“Residents who are not sports team members will lose a huge area which they’ve enjoyed for 45 years,” she protested.

As they moved towards the time to vote on the issue, cabinet members expressed it was with “a very heavy heart” that they were recommending the proposals.

Cllr Christian Hogg, Lib Dem leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services explained that the decision has been largely determined by the fact the 4Cs Academy Trust was seeking a judicial review of the matter in the High Court that would in all likelihood result in the council being forced to pay out a six-figure sum.

“We are up against the wall here,” he admitted.

“4Cs have got a very strong legal case against us in terms of judicial review.”

“If this goes to judicial review then it is going to cost a significant six-figure sum to take to court, and whoever loses has to pay the other side’s legal fees.”

“If Peterborough City Council lose the case[ then] we will have to find the six-figure sum amount of money from local services across the city in order to pay for that.”

Cllr Hogg went on to explain that, even if the city council were to win the case, that the city would still lose out as a whole as the education finances across 4Cs’ portfolio of local schools would bear the brunt of paying legal costs.

“That’s nine Peterborough schools that would be affected with their budgets,” Cllr Hogg explained.

Cllr Zamir Ali, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty & Public Health, echoed Cllr Hogg’s sentiments:

“It is unfair,” he said. “I’m sorry to say we’re in a corner and we really can’t get out of it.”

Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration Mohammed Farooq also lamented the fact neither the council nor the campaigners were in a position to change the direction of travel on the issue:

“Today we’re at a point where none of us are in control of the narrative,” he observed, “apart from the lawyers.”

Summing up, Council Leader Shabina Qayyum spoke for many when she said “this has been a really difficult decision,” and acknowledged the disputed land has a clear “emotional and sentimental value.”

However, the decision to approve the lease to 4Cs was for her, she said, quite categorical:

“The decision around the judicial review has been about best interests,” she noted.

“We’re looking after the interests of the children… but can also, through the Community Use Agreement, look after the interests of the residents as well… so that that field serves the needs of the community and the children of the school at the same time.”

“I think that’s a place where all of us will seem to be comfortable.”