Readers will recall that for the past three years we have been fighting a planning application from Shawley School to build three astroturf five a side football pitches with floodlighting on their playing field behind the school buildings. The playing field backs on to homes in Shawley Way, Great Tattenhams and Upland Way.
Reigate & Banstead’s Planning Committee refused the latest application last September for the following reasons:
“The proposed development, by virtue of the hours of use beyond school hours, into the evenings and weekends; combined with the potential for significant numbers of car movements at these times, would give rise to a substantial level of noise, disturbance and disruption for neighbouring residents, harmful to their residential amenities and contrary to Policies DES1, OSR3 and TAP1 of the Development Management Plan 2019.”
We have now learned that the school has appealed to The Planning Inspectorate who have the power to overturn Reigate & Banstead’s decision.
The school has also circulated a letter to local residents explaining why they have appealed. In this letter they state that their project “will bring significant health and well-being to our students and the wider community.” But their students would not be using the pitches in the dark and the wider community have access to the under-used all-weather pitches at Tadworth Leisure Centre, just a mile away.
Using these pitches in the evening and at weekends would, as the Planning Committee stated, “give rise to a substantial level of noise, disturbance and disruption for neighbouring residents, harmful to their residential amenities.” Although the school have reduced the hours of operation from their original submission, we believe 20 hours per week will still have a significant and excessive impact on local residents.
They also state that there would be sufficient car park capacity to accommodate ‘worst case’ operations of the new facility.’ We find this statement very misleading as residents in the area know from the disruption caused by on-street parking currently at school opening and closing times. And vehicles would be stopping for a couple of hours rather than a few minutes!
Shawley Way Traffic at school closing time
Whilst we support providing the school’s pupils with improved sporting facilities, we are still very concerned about the impact on local residents from noise and lights as well as the disruption caused by traffic and parking. Possibly shorter hours (currently 20 per week) and a sound barrier together with adequate parking facilities on site might make the application more acceptable.
believe that the Leo Trust, which runs the school, is more interested in the revenue that will be generated from this scheme out of school hours rather than the wellbeing of their children during school hours.
The reference at The Planning Inspectorate is APP/L3625/W/25/3361053. Any comments by interested parties must be submitted by 10th April but all existing comments will be reviewed by the Inspector so there is no need to repeat existing concerns.
The Council will be defending their decision. We will keep you informed of developments.
You can read our September 2024 article which provides more details of the scheme here: