A RECENT report written for Malvern Hills District Council by the Sport, Leisure and Culture Consultancy and charting the council’s delivery of its Sling Lane Playing Fields development says: "The project did meet active and vocal community opposition throughout, which was challenging to manage and time consuming to resolve".

It says the district council learned that "continued communication with the local community is essential in order to give accurate and thorough accounts of proposals".

So the district council does understand the principle of accountability and transparency.

I would now ask it to follow that principle in reality.

Will those district council departments responsible for the delivery of the Sling Lane Playing Fields development and democratic services meet local residents to give answers to the questions below, all of which will inform its councillors and the local community on issues which will affect our lives?

Mr Oseman’s land at the tunnel entrance – what arrangement did the council come to? Was it financial or an agreement based on some other arrangement?

May we see the Football Foundation grant agreement as there are questions attaching to it relating to investment security from the Football Foundation which might affect the fields’ future status.

What, exactly, is the nature of the problem with access through Sling Lane Railway Tunnel posed by Network Rail?

May we know what is to be done to ensure safe pedestrian use of the footpath running through Sling Lane Railway Tunnel?

May we know of any negotiations between the lessor/lessee, the Football Federation and/or Sport England relating to the ongoing development and maintenance of the fields which might affect residents in the future?

May we see the terms of the proposed lease between Newtown and the district council?

May we know the extent of the post-development costs accrued so far for repair and remedial works?

All these are issues which greatly concern local people and which many want aired. If left unanswered, the "speculation and hearsay that was, on occasions, quite damaging" to the district council during delivery of its development policy (according to its commissioned report), will continue.

Catherine Hall

Malvern

catherine.h@cmail.co.uk