Werrington Fields campaign group fighting to protect area as part of Peterborough’s Local Plan

A campaign group involved in a long-running saga with a local school over shared playing fields is calling for an area of the fields to be protected as a Local Green Space.

Peterborough city councillors recently agreed to lease a section of Werrington Fields to the Ken Stimpson Academy, albeit a smaller section than the academy trust said it would accept.

It is now up to the trust to decide whether to accept the terms. Meanwhile, campaign group Save Werrington Fields said it is prepared to fight the battle in the courts if necessary.

In the group’s latest efforts to protect the fields, it is encouraging residents to email Peterborough City Council and argue that an area should be protected as a Local Green Space within Peterborough’s Local Plan, a draft version of which is currently under consultation.

A spokesperson for Save Werrington Fields said: “We recently learned that the council refused to designate Werrington Fields as a Local Green Space in both the Draft Local Plan for Peterborough and the Neighbourhood Plan – despite the fact that it fits all the criteria.

“The green character of Werrington is the heart and soul of the village and one of its most valued assets, but for some reason Peterborough City Council seem hell bent on removing more and more of it from public access.

“There are other cases around the country where open public fields are shared by a school, and planning inspectors have ruled that this dual use does not stop them being protected as a Local Green Space, so we have responded to the council asking that this decision is reviewed and that the law is upheld on the protection of our green spaces.”

When an area is designated as a Local Green Space, it receives strong protection against development.

The group hopes that by designating the area as a Local Green Space, it will provide better protection to keep it open to the public.

However, the group is still hoping a resolution can be found with the academy trust which preserves as much open space as possible.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: "The Draft Local Plan is currently out for consultation with the public. No decisions have been made, and all feedback is important. We encourage people to have their say by the deadline of May 29."