School gets green light for park plan

planning meeting school park plan
Updated report: It's been an extensively debated topic since 2007 but on Tuesday (June 23) Bitterne Park Primary won approval at a council planning meeting to fully enclose part of Riverside Park for school use, and close public access to the footpath behind the school so it can effectively link the school with the field.

 The school will build a new path around the area, and provide free community access on a bookable basis outside of school hours, with the grounds open for general public access during extended school holidays.

Six people spoke to oppose the plans at the meeting.

One was David Hutchings, secretary of the Friends of Riverside Park (FORP), who said the whole of the area was donated by Lord Swaythling in 1897, and its correct name is 'Bitterne Park Recreation Ground':

 

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“It is not a playing field, it belongs to everyone in Southampton, and this proposal will stop any other children from other parts of Southampton using this land...; any other visitors from other boroughs; everyone else in Bitterne Park; and is going to put more power in the hands of the school – an institution that is rapidly leaving the orbit of the council, as all schools are,” he said.

Mr Hutchings added that his group supported the idea of children having a clean place to play and better fencing, but didn't agree with excluding the general public outside of school hours. He said the “awful” community agreement excludes half terms, inset days and summer evenings, and claimed the planning documents were unclear, being unspecific about where, and how much of, the school's boundary wall would be demolished.

Level crossing

He suggested “no consideration” had been given to a level crossing-type arrangement to keep the existing path open out of school hours, and expressed unhappiness with the way the school had dealt with the community.

Resident Sandrine Maugy objected on the grounds of loss of the amenity for the local community, and said children would go on to be part of the community for the rest of their lives.

Precedent

riverside park rear of primary school bank

“Once they demolish their wall and they put a fence around it, we've lost that piece of land – that public space – forever. It will never go back to the park after that, and I think that's a really risky move – a dangerous precedent to set,” said Ms Maugy.

Howard WhiteheadSpeaking in favour, school chair of governors Howard Whitehead, left, said that not only would a “somewhat run-down and graffitied” part of the park be renovated, but that the green space would be secured during school hours for the sole use of the children.

“This will allow them to use it for a full range of educational and sporting activities which currently they are denied.”

He said a community use agreement had been reviewed by Southampton legal, FORP, and SCAPPS [Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society] so anyone could book the space outside of school hours, and at weekends, for free, and during extended school holidays the area would be opened up to all with no need to book.

Stakeholders

 

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The school didn't want to control the space at those times, and wasn't seeking financial gain through the scheme, and he said the school had “worked constructively” with a variety of community stakeholders, including councillors, FORP, and Bitterne Park Residents' Association. There had been two public meetings, one arranged by FORP and the other by the school, with 471 support votes garnered on the school website as a result of invitations to the latter meeting.

And of 131 ballots cast at the second public meeting in a non-binding vote, Mr Whitehead said 64% voted in favour of closing the existing path, diverting it, and closing the green space outside of school hours.

“... clearly I'm surprised to hear some of the objections this evening because we've had a number of meetings with Doug the chair and various other senior members of FORP, and they've helped us put together the planning application,” said Mr Whitehead.

riverside park footpath behind school

He said the school is keen that the space is used as much as possible by the community, but “due to safeguarding reasons, we have to have the green space secure for the children, which means it cannot be accessed by the general public during the school day.”

Also speaking in favour was Conservative councillor for Bitterne Park ward Ivan White. He said not everyone was in agreement, but he thought that there was a compromise in the community agreement, and recommended the proposal be accepted.

“Just for the record, I was part of the cabinet when it was voted for in 2008 and I supported it then, so it would be rather strange if I didn't support it now,” he added.

The plans were approved unanimously.

Reaction online was swift, with a large number of views to the news item on bitternepark.info and our Facebook page, where there were 'Likes' and various approving comments.

“Fantastic news! Congratulations to everyone involved and thank you for all your hard work!” wrote Joanne Tinley, while Emma Butler wrote: “Brilliant news! Well done everyone.”

But on Twitter former Labour councillor Paul Jenks said it was a “Bad decision, shroud waving and emotional blackmail from the school”;

 He also described it as  “Unnecessary annexing of public open space” :

 Ross Chapman responded:

“park is plenty big for mixed use. Happy that the children can go and exercise and have fun in a safe environment”

Previously:
School's park plan goes before council
How we reported it - back in 2007!


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