Residents fight plans for school multi-sports pitch

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee is being asked to consider a proposal to provide the multi-sports games area on part of a playing field area at Bankfields Primary School, in Mansfield Road, Eston.

The pitch would measure 32 metres by 18 metres and would be floodlit by six eight- metre-high floodlighting columns and would be available for use by the school and the local community.

But people living in Mansfield Road and Nab Close have written to the council opposing the scheme on several grounds.

They say that placing a floodlit sports pitch in the middle of a built-up area is "lunacy" and argue there are more suitable locations elsewhere in Eston.

They also say there will be problems with traffic and parking and fear that the pitch would become a magnet for youngsters to hang out on an evening.

Other residents in Bankfields Road say they fear the development could become a source of noise nuisance unless restrictions are placed on the times that the pitch is available for use.

In October, permission was given for a music and drama hall and an art studio to be built at the school under the Government's Space for Sports and Art initiative.

The scheme originally included a plan for a multi- sports pitch at the back of the school, but this was withdrawn because of concerns that the pitch would be too close to houses in Bankfields Road.

But the new proposal would put the pitch to the north-west of the school and would be sited more than 40 metres away from the nearest Banksfield Road house.

The pitch would be available for school and community groups and the groups would use changing facilities at the school.

The letting of the pitch to community groups would be the responsibility of the school.

The planning committee, which meets on Thursday, is being recommended to approve the scheme, with the understanding that the lights are switched off by 9pm Monday to Friday and 6pm at weekends and bank holidays.