A GRIMSBY school has revived its plan to establish an all-weather sports pitch to be surrounded by perimeter fencing to a maximum height of 2.4 metres.
Lisle Marsden School abandoned a previous proposal following neighbours' objections.
However, following positive discussions with neighbours, it has submitted a revised scheme which it hopes will be approved by NELC planners.
The academy-status school, which is located off Lansdowne Avenue, seems to have bent over backwards to address the concerns of neighbours and has submitted this statement in support of its application.
"We originally submitted a planning application in May 2018 for a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) to be sited along on an open grassed area on our northern boundary.
"Unfortunately, the term ‘MUGA’ has many anti social and negative connotations associated with it, and many of our neighbours assumed these would apply to our facility.
"Also, despite our plans stating that we would not be installing floodlights and that it was only to be used by Lisle Marsden pupils during school hours, many people objected to what they perceived would be an increase in noise and traffic during evenings and weekends.
"In addition, many residents were unhappy with the chosen location which was sited on the boundary of neighbouring properties. After many objections we eventually took the decision to withdraw the plans.
We then revised the plans, consulted in writing and invited members of the local community to a public consultation and held a separate meeting with four of our closest neighbours.
"They indicated that the proposed location still did not meet with their approval.
"At the public consultation, two neighbours attended who were in favour of the application.
"Following these meetings, and at the suggestion of our closest neighbours, we made further revisions to our plans and agreed to relocate the new facility to the eastern side of the academy, at the rear of our buildings.
"This new location is significantly further away from people’s homes and will be less disruptive to our closest neighbours. The new facility will now be 24 metres away from the nearest bungalows.
"It will be sited partly on the existing academy playing field and also on a grassed area that is currently used by children for PE, games and at playtimes and lunchtimes.
"Plenty of ‘green space’ is still available to the children and will have no adverse impact on their play.
The statement continues: "The new location meets the essential operational needs of the academy to provide access and to monitor the children to ensure their safeguarding and wellbeing."
"We wrote to all neighbours whose properties are in close proximity to the new facility, inviting them to visit the academy to view the proposal and to contact us with any concerns.
"As part of the construction, we will amend our existing fenced area to fully accommodate the new facility inside the secure fenced area of the academy site.
"We will also plant hedging on the edge of this new fencing to improve the view and to act as sound absorption."
The statement goes on: "It is important to stress that this area will only be used by Lisle Marsden pupils for sports, games and play during normal academy hours.
"We will not be installing floodlights and will not be hiring out the facility during evenings and weekends. These guarantees are clearly stated in our planning application.
"Residents will not experience any additional traffic or noise from this new facility outside of school hours.
"Also, we will not be allowing ball games to be played on the grass in front of the bungalows within the existing fenced area.
"Ball games will be confined to the new sports area or the larger field."
A decision is expected to be made by planners later this summer.
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