Playing fields row could be resolved with new deal

Werrington Fields in Peterborough

A council has unveiled a plan which it hopes could resolve a long-running dispute over the use of playing fields.

Peterborough City Council has said it needed to safeguard secondary school pupils from Ken Stimpson Academy who use Werrington Fields.

In 2019 the council proposed fencing off part of the field for use by the school during term time following "incidents of anti-social and threatening behaviour".

Councillors will be asked to lease the land to the academy to enable the field to be fenced off, but still allow access for the public outside school hours.

A report, written for a meeting on Tuesday, has recommended the council should install a fence around the site - known widely as Area C - so pupils could once again take part in outdoor sports.

The pupils have not been able to use the field for sport due to concerns around safety.

Councillors will also be asked to approve a plan to enter into a community-use agreement with the academy, to "protect use of the land by the local community and sports groups".

John Gregg, executive director of children’s services for the council, said: “The academy has made it very clear that it wants the entire Area C fencing, land which is allocated for educational use and cannot be changed."

He said the proposal would allow the school to offer a full curriculum as well as community use of the area.

Council officers have been reconsidering the situation since March, when former leader Mohammed Farooq called for a review.