Playing Fields Development

From a recent letter:

"Consultation on the future of the University of Sheffield's playing fields which are bound by Warminster Road, Mount View Road, Woodland Road, Newfield School, Norton Lees Golf Course and the allotments behind the top of Warminster Road

We are writing to invite you to a meeting of local residents and other interested parties with a view to discussing the above playing fields, of which you are neighbours. The University of Sheffield is considering the potential for upgrading and expanding sport and recreation facilities on offer at the site, and we are keen to get early community involvement and feedback to fully appreciate your views and ideas.

From our own discussions with our users, we have outline ideas of what we might see as fitting the criteria, but we have not spent any money to date drawing up plans, so now is a good time to listen to local opinions. Our basic concept so far is to develop a synthetic pitch with a new pavilion and car parking all towards the lower end of the site. To support this financially we would need to sell the existing pavilion and the associated small car park and land immediately either side of pavilion. This would be the only land we would look to sell. Our thoughts of course take into account guidance on Open Space planning policies and the type and appropriateness of development in such areas."

The meeting
About fifty people showed up for the initial meeting, to be "bribed" with tea and bikkies as they signed in. The university team stressed that they had made no decisions and wanted our thoughts to help them progress. They intend to sell the land where the changing rooms and small car park are, presumably to be developed into housing, to help fund the new all-weather floodlit pitch and changing rooms/cafe to be built at the lower end of the fields.

The main concerns were the volume of traffic to be funneled down the single existing entrance, especially with the building being a commercial venture, open and lit until 10pm. The team said the new car park ought to alleviate the current parking issues on Warminster road, but this was viewed somewhat skeptically by local residents.

Light and noise pollution were mentioned, as well as the particular difficulties to be faced by those near to the entrance, shown right. Environmental issues were also raised, as well as the increased risk of motor-bikes etc which could enter via the gate until 10pm. A local caretaker was mentioned, but the public were skeptical about this as a solution - it doesn't work on the Newfield school grounds.

The university promised to continue their policy of community access with any new facilities. They also explained that this was only the first of a series of planned meetings for the public. We hope to present any information they supply on this site, so please check back. A NoLRA representative explained that we are happy to help co-ordinate a local action group to monitor this project, any interested parties should contact the secretary.

Here are the University notes from the same meeting in pdf format.