Gillian Keegan says Peterborough school field can be fenced off

The school has an agreement with local authorities to use the fields for sport, while the public retains access

The education secretary has told a council it can decide whether to fence off part of a school playing field.

Local people raised concerns about Peterborough City Council's plans to limit access to Werrington Fields to safeguard Ken Stimpson Academy pupils.

Gillian Keegan said it would have to remain designated as educational land but the authority could decide whether to build fences there.

The city's Conservative MP Paul Bristow had raised the issue in the Commons.

He posted a response from the education secretary on X - formerly Twitter, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

• MP raises concern over fields fence plans

• Public fields to be fenced to 'safeguard' pupils

The council - which is under no overall political control - had asked the government if it could change the designation of the area to "public open space".

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has set out her position on the issue in a letter to Peterborough MP Paul Bristow

In a letter, Ms Keegan responded: "The department refused this decision in November 2023 to ensure local children at the school have access to the open space they deserve."

"Any decision by Peterborough City to fence off parts, or none of, the school's playing field land does not require consent from the department and is entirely a matter for the council - provided the land remains designated as educational land."

Mr Bristow had said many constituents were disappointed by the proposals and urged the council "not to enclose the fields in this way".

The row over Werrington Fields began in 2019, when the council first proposed fencing off part of them for use by the school during term time.

Councillors said the move followed "incidents of antisocial and threatening behaviour".