FLOODLIT ALL WEATHER SPORTS PITCH, IMPROVED LOCAL PLAY AND CAR PARKING

AT WESTWOOD GRANGE, MAYORS WALK, WEST TOWN, PETERBOROUGH

Netherton Neighbourhood Association discussed the above application at a recent Committee Meeting and resolved that in principle they had no objection to the All Weather Pitches and ancillary works but were seriously concerned over anticipated environmental problems of light pollution, car parking, car movement, surface water and flooding.

Committee members did visit and view the application and various accompanying documents at Bayard Place and whilst the accompanying documents reported that Consultants saw no problems with lighting pollution or surface water it was quite evident, in the absence of any car parking or car movement document that there could or would be problems in these two conjoined areas.

Yesterday morning at 1030 hrs Sunday 15^th November Committee members counted 96 cars indiscriminately parked on the Grange Football Site.  As only two junior matches were being played this figure confirms that the provision of on site car parking for 84 cars is not sufficient and on other days when more matches and/or more senior matches are being played street car parking and movement will cause mayhem.  It is appreciated that every effort has been made to alleviate car parking problems but a more comprehensive solution is needed.

NNA recommends that Netherton Football Club, the Football Association and Peterborough City Council reconsider their aspirations for The Grange and give thought to a solution to the emerging Netherton car parking and traffic movement problem.

It is suggested that the Netherton Football Club and the Football Association buy sufficient land on The Grange site from the City Council to accommodate the anticipated next ten year growth of Netherton Football Club.

A feasibility study would provide sufficient information to consider the construction of an area of car parking which would serve the football players, supporters, spectators which could reduce some emerging social environmental and infrastructure problems.

The area is well served by the No 2 and No 3 bus service and the car park could therefore be used as both an outer City Car Park and a Club Car Park bringing in much needed and continuous revenue to both the City and the Club.

It is thought that this suggestion would relieve pressure on vehicle management in the City and would bring prestige to the Club, the Football Association and the City and its environs, for their foresight at the inception period of a valuable City asset.  

As will have been recognised by the Duty Planner in Bayard Place many residents made complaints about there perceived problems with the 14.5m high flood lighting if matches continued until 2200hrs.  Residents of Mayors Walk and Thorpe Park Road and other nearby properties also had an opinion that the flood lighting may or could be turned to allow lighting to be spread onto adjoining pitches outside the flood lit all weather pitch

Concern was also expressed on the Acoustic Fence and whilst it was generally accepted that the proposals had residents of the Eastern end of Thorpe Park Road and the two houses in Mayors Walk in mind they remained concerned about rear access to their properties.  It is believed that some have Rights of Way written into their property deeds. 

On balance the Consultants Report of Flooding was acceptable but there still remains a residents lingering doubt of flooding and with the main sewer running North to South across the site and a further rather smelly sewer running partly East to West and then terminating in a rather smelly mess mid allotments.  This was additionally exacerbated by bores being taken in the middle of last week to determine whether surface water would soak away as anticipated in the Consultants Report.

The above are several questions being asked upon which answers given must assuage the doubts of residents and at this stage Netherton Neighbourhood Association ask the Planning Authority to convene a public open meeting to allow questions to be asked and authoratively answered.

15 November 2009

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