Opponents to new sports pitches defeated at public inquiry

FAIRFIELD High School has won the next stage in its battle to create new sports pitches on a field in Horfield after opposition to the plan was defeated at a public inquiry.

Dog walkers and ramblers have fought the £2-million plan to build three pitches on nearby South Purdown since 2003, claiming the development would wreck a pleasant meadow.

Their last chance to save the green space hinged on a public inquiry last month, when they argued that a public footpath running across the field should not be re-routed to accommodate the three fenced-in pitches.

But the planning inspector behind the hearing, Peter Millman, has now ruled in favour of the school – paving the way for the pitches to be built off Muller Road.

Lyn Chamberlain, head teacher at Fairfield School, said plans could press ahead if no appeals were made against the decision in the next two weeks.

She said: "We are waiting for the whole procedure to end before we start jumping up and down and do anything. It's subject to appeal at the High Court."

The school in Allfoxton Road argued that the pitches, which would be available for the public to hire, are urgently needed to provide enough sports space for its 1,120 pupils.

But people who live near the meadow say it is scenic, well-used by dog walkers and ramblers and needs to be protected.

Last year's inquiry centred on a plan to re-route a 200-metre public footpath to make way for the pitches, which already have planning permission.

Bristol City Council said it would not be appropriate to have dog walkers and pedestrians cutting through one of the pitches.

Fairfield High School has artificial pitches at Boiling Wells, but rugby and competitive football cannot be played on them, and parents and teachers say the three new pitches are needed to avoid having to drive children to other fields for PE.

Sue Flint, spokeswoman for Friends of South Purdown, said she was disappointed by the planning inspector's ruling but said applications had been submitted in a bid to make two separate unmarked paths crossing the field into official rights of way.

If the two "informal" paths are officially recognised as rights of way, she says it could scupper plans for the sports pitches.

She said: "The QC for the council said at the end of the public inquiry that the new applications could mean we end up having another public inquiry. I was disappointed the planning inspector didn't have more sympathy for the things we had pointed out... We don't know how the school will play it now. There are alternatives for the school – they could use the Muller Road Recreation Ground, which they own. South Purdown could be used by the school for other educational activities rather than organised sport."

In 2007, a bid by residents to win town green status for the meadow to stave off any development failed.

And 2,000 petitioners backed the campaign to preserve the field, on the northern side of Muller Road, in 2005.

A spokeswoman for Bristol City Council said: "The council intends to go ahead with the development of sports facilities at Fairfield School in accordance with the planning permission."

"Two further applications for DMMOs (definitive map modification orders) have been received and will be dealt with through the normal procedures."