Whitgift School's all weather sports pitch proposal thrown out

By aworden

By Nikki Jarvis

nikki.jarvis@essnmedia.co.uk

Relieved residents are celebrating the decision to reject plans for a new all-weather sports pitch that they say would have been a "monstrous intrusion" on their lives.

The proposal for Whitgift School's hockey pitch were thrown out by Croydon Council's planning committee.

Eight 50-foot high floodlights were part of the design and the facility was going to be used between 8am and 9pm.

A group of more than 20 residents led by Lionel Phillips, 85, campaigned to get the plan thwarted saying it would have ruined the character of their neighbouring road.

Mr Phillips said: "Whitgift Avenue is an oasis in the middle of a fairly ordinary district. It's a special road in our view.

"There is an unspoken agreement that means all the houses are white and the gardens are nicely kept.

"This pitch would have been an ugly intrusion on this and almost certainly downgraded the character of Whitgift Avenue."

Waddon councillor Simon Hoar had supported the residents in their fight.

He said: "The whole plan would have been massively overbearing and a complete overdevelopment of the land.

"There is an elderly residential home opposite and you can hear hockey balls cracking from miles off – who wants that until 9pm?

"People there also did not want massive floodlights overlooking them and keeping them up at night when they are left on by mistake."

But the school in Haling Park, South Croydon, argued that the development would have been an "outstanding" sports provision.

The school has the right to appeal the decision or put in an amended application.