Residents are 'horrified' by latest playing fields scheme (From Malvern Gazette)

Residents are 'horrified' by latest playing fields scheme

5:20pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Robert Hale

PEOPLE living near playing fields in Great Malvern say they are “horrified” by the latest plans to develop the site.

Plans to develop the Sling Lane fields with two full-size and two junior football pitches, a changing-room block, new road access and 48 car parking spaces have been displayed on Malvern Hills District Council’s website as part of a public consultation.

But they have come in for criticism from members of the Heart of Malvern Residents'

Association (Homra), whose chairman Ian Scott said: “It's fair to say we’re horrified.”

In its submission to MHDC, Homra wrote: “We were surprised to see that this proposal, with through road, increased car parking and fencing surrounding the fields represents a significant increase in the extent of the development previously refused planning permission.

This increased development will have a more significant impact on the site”.

Homra was formed by residents concerned at plans to lease the fields to Newtown Sports Junior Football Club.

MHDC approved a 25-year lease to Newtown Sports in December 2010, but the club’s application for a pavilion on the site was turned down by council planners last October.

The following month MHDC took over the lead on the project.

The authority has now removed the latest plans from its website, but head of customer and environmental services Ivor Pumfrey said this was simply because the consultation period had ended and its policy was to keep the site uncluttered. He hopes a planning application will go in this month.

“If it's approved then, we can start to draw up detailed specifications to allow contractors to tender,” he said.

He also disputed HOMRA’s assertion that the council was planning to fence off the site.

He said: “The fences shown in the plan are only those which are already in place there.”