Plans to improve play area in Bishops Tachbrook welcomed by residents despite opposition from Sports England

Plans to enlarge and improve a Bishops Tachbrook play area have been welcomed by some of those living nearby even though Sports England were opposed to the scheme.

The scheme put forward by the local parish council could see new equipment added to the site on The Meadow which will then be enclosed by a one metre-high fence. It will be resurfaced with eco mulch, wet pour - a rubber substance - and grass.

Planners at Warwick District Council received six letters in support of the scheme with two objecting. One of those in favour said: “This is a much needed expansion and improvement to the existing tired playground facilities in a community that is growing rapidly.

“This will be a huge asset to residents and those in surrounding areas. Considerable community consultation has been undertaken to ensure the needs of all ages and abilities are catered for. This extends to flooring, fencing and access to The Meadow for other recreational and community activity.”

And another neighbour added it was ‘a much needed area for a growing village with a large number of children’.

They said: “Flooring is a great choice for many reasons including accessibility for prams, wheelchairs and young children. Full fencing to keep children in and dogs out. It will be a perfect asset to the community.”

Sports England’s opposition is due to the enlarged play area covering part of a playing field that could form a playing pitch.

In a letter to the council it explained: “It is understood that the proposal prejudices the use, or leads to the loss of use, of land being used as a playing field or has been used as a playing field in the last five years.”

It added that Sport England’s policy was to oppose planning permission that would lead to the loss of, or prejudice the use of, all or part of a playing field.

In her report to accompany the plans, Warwick District Council planning officer Rebecca Compton explained: “The applicant has put forward a case that this particular part of the playing field has not been laid out as a pitch for many years due to the poor quality of the ground and the lack of runoff to the southern corners.

"However, the applicant has demonstrated that the site can accommodate the existing pitch and an additional 7x7 pitch in the remaining playing field in the event that the proposal was to go ahead.”

And she explained that even though the plans were approved, the district council was required to refer the application to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government who will decide whether or not to ‘call in’ the application due to Sport England’s opposition.