Corsley play proposals get go-ahead from planners (South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats)

South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats <info@swwiltshirelibdems.org.uk>

Corsley play proposals get go-ahead from planners

September 17, 2010 8:50 AM

An ambitious proposal by Corsley Memorial Playing Fields Committee to expand the facilities available on the field has met with opposition from the Parish Council and nearby residents.

The proposed children's play equipment would include a 34-metre long and 4m high aerial runway or zip wire, which would be sited to the north-west of the larger of the two tennis courts. There would also be a balance bar springer, a bicycle trail, a boules area, a climbing post, a multi-use goal end, a multi-use rebound wall, a "nest swing", and a cycle ramp.

Privacy screening would be placed on the northern and eastern sides of the existing wire mesh of the double tennis courts.

A shade sail would offer shade from the sun and would be in the form of a triangular sail, with each of the three sides measuring 5 metres. It would be raised to a height of 3 metres and its colour would either be green or beige. A picnic table made from recycled plastic, with the appearance of wood, would be located underneath the sail.

The car park would be more clearly denoted and grass grow-through matting would be used as the surface material.

Other ancillary works to the site would include the relocation of the equipment shed, the upgrading of the two existing side accesses to enable easier access, the provision of seating benches, repair work to the two brick pillars by the main entrance to the site and the resurfacing of the multi use all weather area.

However Corsley Parish Council objected to the proposal, because they say the close proximity of the equipment to neighbours would result in a noise nuisance and disturbance, and the equipment would look out of place in the Special Landscape Area. The PC also accuse the Playing Fields Committee of misrepresenting the facts in their submission to Wiltshire Council.

Several residents complained that the noise of children playing would disturb them.

However planning officers said the applicants had done enough to minimise any potential nuisance and the application should be granted. At their September 15th meeting West Wiltshire planning committee agreed with this and voted for the scheme to go ahead.

Open Forum speakers clarified some of the points the residents were worried about whilst generally supporting the application. For the parish council Malcolm Holly said, "The playing field is in desperate need of updating, but the committee should talk to residents before construction."

Local councillor Fleur de Rhe Philipe said, "I hope the committee will pass this and the applicants will continue to talk to objectors - this will be of considerable benefit to the children of Corsley and Chapmanslade."

Corsley Playing Field Committee are hoping for lottery funding to supplement local fundraising to pay for the project.