A scheme to divert the footpath behind Bitterne Park Primary School, so part of Riverside Park can be enclosed mainly for the school's use, has hit a delay because plans have been rejected by the government's Planning Inspectorate.
Article continues after this message...
The council order (pdf) would have meant the footpath, which runs behind the school, could be closed to the public and replaced by a new path running around the field behind the school.
It went to the Planning Inspectorate for approval because there had been objections (148 including those from people who had just signed a standard letter).
The order couldn't be confirmed on technical grounds (pdf), mainly because the Planning Inspectorate said submitted maps weren't to the right scale.
It's understood that the council will now have to re-do their order and maps, and repeat an advertising process.
At this point residents would have the right to object again, in which case it would go back for determination to the Planning Inspectorate – where we understand a decision could take an estimated 27 weeks.
Previously: School gets green light for park plan (June 2015)