We’ve no worries over floodlit sports pitch bid (From Worcester News)

We’ve no worries over floodlit sports pitch bid

3:20pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Sarah Davies

A STATE-of-the-art sports pitch could be built in the grounds of a Worcester school.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College wants to develop a floodlit multi-use games area (MUGA) for its pupils, which would also be open to the public.

If approved, the space, sited beside the sports hall, would cater for sports including five-a-side football and hockey, and potentially netball, basketball and tennis.

A planning application submitted to Worcester City Council has already attracted comments from a number of people living in surrounding streets. Concerns have been raised about potential parking problems and increased traffic in congested streets, light pollution, noise levels and the site attracting anti-social behaviour. But headteacher Sean Devlin said the pitch would benefit the wider community.

He said: “Because of the wet summer, we weren’t able to use our field. We’re taking a grass area out and putting the sport area in its place, which will enable us to increase the use of our sports field. Over the years, the number of exams our pupils have been sitting has increased and that takes the sports hall out of action.

“Within this area and St Peter’s, there is very little available in terms of sports facilities and we’re one of the few schools now that doesn’t have a MUGA so we’re also upgrading our sports facilities. At the moment, we open our tennis courts to the public for free and have done since I arrived. “The whole area is secure and a member of facilities staff is on site during those hours. We have no problem with outsiders trying to get in. Parking is already there. There is not going to be masses of people. We are having it predominantly for the school with the additional benefit of people from the community being able to hire it.

“The sports hall is already hired out, so the precedent is there in terms of traffic. The PE staff are over the moon about the project and Year 11s are already asking me if it will be ready in time for their use. We hope to have it up and running by January.”

For details visit worcester. gov.uk.