No enclosure of Longthorpe field
Petition objecting to enclosure of the
field next to Longthorpe Primary School and seeking continued shared use
of this open access green space by the school and local inhabitants.
Background
Peterborough City Council Children’s
Services Dept, on behalf of Longthorpe Primary School, seek to erect a
security fence enclosing most of the recreational field adjacent to the
school. The proposal is shown on a drawing included with their planning
application for some building extension works at the school. The
application can be seen on the City Council website at
www.peterborough.gov.uk/planning_and_building/planning_and_building_online.aspx
(you have to accept the Copyright notice then enter Bradwell Road in the
search box which appears).
The area which would be enclosed is
approximately 1.2 hectares (nearly 3 acres), which is a significant
proportion of the open green space available to local residents of
Netherton, Longthorpe and South Bretton. See map:
Longthorpe School Perimeter Plan. Approximately 1500 people live
within 10 minutes walk of the field. The field is particularly valuable
to residents as a space for casual and organised sports, being the only
local area having reasonably flat ground, being unobstructed by trees
and being broad enough that sports do not impinge on neighbouring
houses.
Local inhabitants have enjoyed
unrestricted access to the field ever since the surrounding estates were
developed over 30 years ago. The field is well used for many
recreational purposes at all times of year and by all members of the
community, young children, youths and adults alike.
As intended in planning of the area, the
field is also used by Longthorpe school, weather and timetable
permitting; they use it for sports and in summer lunch breaks. The
school claim their intent now to fence off the field is to better
safeguard their pupils, who may otherwise be exposed to dog mess and to
the risk of abduction. By comparison, the report of the most recent
Ofsted inspection notes that procedures for safeguarding learners meet
government requirements. The originator of this petition believes the
school’s concerns are exaggerated and that any potential problems can be
overcome by supervision of children on the field, as happens at present
and has been effective in the past. This approach has meant that joint
use of the field by school and local inhabitants has taken place
harmoniously and without problem for over 30 years.
PETITION
Longthorpe school plan to fence off the adjacent
field- BANNING EVERYONE from using the open space
enjoyed by Longthorpe/Netherton residents and school
alike for over 35 years.
Proposed enclosure
ACT NOW - SAY NO
Record your
objection by signing the petition at
www.gopetition.co.uk
SAVE THE OPEN SPACE FOR ALL TO USE
Petition
objecting to enclosure of the field next to Longthorpe Primary School
and seeking continued shared use of this open access green space by the
school and local inhabitants.
We the
undersigned call upon Peterborough City Council to abandon any proposal
for enclosure of the field next to Longthorpe Primary School.
We believe
that enclosure would damage the distinct local identity of the
neighbourhood, which deliberately has an open aspect throughout as
planned and landscaped by the former Development Corporation. The
principle of open aspect is enshrined across the neighbourhood by
covenants in property title deeds, included in the interests of all
neighbours and users of the area. We believe enclosure is contrary to
Planning Policy DA1 and may be contrary to land covenants similar to
those applicable to local house owners.
The currently
proposed fencing would enclose approximately 1.2 hectares of the field
(nearly 3 acres). We believe this large loss of accessible green space,
openly enjoyed by local inhabitants for more than three decades, would
have a severe adverse impact on community recreational facilities for
children and adults alike. In respect of landscaped areas and open space
we believe the proposed enclosure is contrary to Planning Policies DA10
and LT3.
We have noted
reasons given in support of field enclosure but are of the opinion that
permanent exclusion of local residents is a disproportionate response to
the school’s concerns. Instead we would like the school to have use of
the field but openly shared with the local population, as has been the
case since the Netherton and Longthorpe estates were developed over
thirty years ago.
Please return
the completed petition to David Worth at 29 Spinney Walk (house
facing onto the field, near the big trees, yellow door) or phone on
268669 and we will collect from your house.
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