Wiltshire school sports facility plans spark parking row

An application for planning permission to build the pitch at St Johns School, an Excalibur Academies Trust school on Granham Hill in Marlborough, has been submitted.

The plans also propose perimeter fencing, hardstanding areas, a storage container, and floodlights.

At a Marlborough Town Council planning committee meeting, Cllr Mervyn Hall explained that the plans were the culmination of a three-year project to get the town an artificial pitch.

The facility is needed because Marlborough now has a youth football club with over 500 players and there is a shortage of pitches due to the lack of flat space.

But the proposal has met criticism from some residents who fear it will create parking problems and noise and light pollution during the evening, with the pitch due to be used until 10pm some nights.

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The planned site at the school (Image: SSL) Richard Beale, the town council’s former grounds manager, said: “The use of the sports facility from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week throughout the year, will seriously affect traffic and light pollution, noise and parking, and will significantly impact the quality of life for the community and wildlife.

“We are concerned that all parking and drop off will not take place within the St John’s facility and that the limited parking capacity on residential roads will also be used.

“This will conflict with the regular parking of residents returning from work or evening events.”

There is particular concern about the impact on parking at Cherry Orchard, Orchard Road, and Ducks Meadow, which residents already say is crowded.

The town council did not object to the plans but has requested that access is managed to prevent parking issues arising.

Wiltshire Council is set to determine the application by Tuesday, October 1.

What the facility could look like (Image: SSL) If approved, the pitch would cost £800,000, which will largely be funded by the Football Association, and would primarily be used by Marlborough Youth Football Club.

Cllr Hall added it would also be available for wider community use and said the town should welcome the development as an “asset” for young people.

Many teams currently play their home games in Burbage, Mildenhall, and Avebury because of the pitch shortage.

St John's says it has received support from both Wiltshire Council and the town council and has been hoping to build the facility since 2009.

The school emphasised its large car park will provide easy access to the site while the design has incorporated floodlights specifically for locations requiring low light pollution.

Principal Alan Henderson said: “This project has been an aim for the school for many years and we are delighted that we have already cleared so many hurdles and are now on track to secure substantial funding from the Football Foundation, benefiting not just our students but also providing facilities for our local community to use; something that is very important to me”.