CONTROVERSIAL plans to fence off part of Pitmaston Park in St John's have been turned down by Worcester City Council planners

The Worcester News first revealed last November that Pitmaston Primary School wanted to fence off 27 per cent of the park, off Malvern Road, in a controversial bid to create a "secure" play area.

The play area was proposed to feature a junior football pitch and a soft play area for the youngsters to enjoy, but the original scheme, which also included a 6ft-high fence, dismayed some residents as the fenced off area would have not been open to the public when in use by the school.

Outside of school hours, although it would have been available to the public, dogs would have also been banned from the area.

Residents took part in the consultation process, submitting views for and against the plan.

Neil Ashby, of the Avenue, said: “I am strongly against it. It is an area well used by the community.

"It is not just dog walkers, football teams train there, people go with their families and have picnics."

Joanne Hardie, from Ashdown Close, said: “As a mother of two children at this school and a regular user of the park I wholeheartedly support this development of a safe, secure area for sports activities.”

In May, in a blow for the school and despite officers recommendations to approve, the planning committee voted to be minded to refuse the application, referring to the loss of green space and the visual impact of the fence.

And at the last meeting of the committee, on June 22, this decision was rubber stamped, pleasing campaigners against the plan.

Caroline Pearson, who lives in Palmers Green and who set up a Facebook page called ‘Save our Pitmaston Park’, posted on the forum: "I'm pleased to report that everyone in the community can still use their park as the planning application to rip our park apart for the sole use of the school has failed once again.

"In brief - sanity prevailed and the park remains open to us all."

Hazel Hyman added on the forum: "Fantastic news - so relieved."

The Worcester News approached the school, but was told they would not be commenting on this issue.