QPCS 3G pitch agreed despite residents' opposition. Danger of crime and gangs cited by headteacher as reasons for after school provision on school premises

 

 I have just caught up with the Planning Committee Meeting that considered and approved plans for a 3G all-weather pitch at Queens Park Community School (QPCS).

It was a controversial application where both sides, Brondesbury Park Residents Association (BPRA)  and QPCS, brought in some big gun experts to advise on their case,  which must have been at considerable financial costs. It was a very lengthy meeting with public representations made on both sides and Cllr Gbajumo speaking on behalf of the 3 ward councillors in support of the school's application.

BPRA had submitted a petition of c300 signatures opposing the application. They pointed out that most objections were from nearby homes whilst supporters were mainly well outside the area. They expressed the view that the views of those that lived nearby should be given more weight but were told that this was not within planning guidance. They noted that only 20% of the 1200 pupils had written in support of the application. 

The speaker on behalf of the BPRA claimed that they had been lied to by the school  throughout their dealings and questioned their integrity.  He asked if the appplication was for the benefit of the school and the local community or mainly for commercial reasons. Out of school hours use would be for 67% of the time.  The headteacher had said the school was cash rich but to make it commercially viable they would have to have the commercial usage applied for.

Cllr Kelcher asked about the potential benefits of the pitch. The BPRA speaker replied that at first they did not want the pitch at all but wanted to negotiate but could not do so because the lines of communication were severed. They felt that other pitches were available in the area and these were more appropriate as not near people's homes. The fact that the pitch would be open until 9pm. Monday to Friday, 6 or 7pm at the weekends, would be harmful to the community and its way of life. BPRA suggested a weekday cut-off of 6pm for both school and community use. Questioned by a councillor he said that if the finish time was 6pm he would probably write a letter of support for the application himself, probably with conditions such as a more enviromentally suitable pitch surface.

There was some discussion about alternative sites with some dispute about how long it would take pupils and residents to walk to Capital City Academy. 

Another local resident addressing the committe said, 'We would like to keep our evenings. Our children's bedrooms will overlook the pitch.' She said that her 5 and 6 year old went to bed at 7.30pm. The school had acknowledged there would be increased noise. She did not have an objection to children, it was adults yelling  from the pitch that concerned her.

A local resident, who said he was a member of the BPRA but had not attended any of their meetings because as far as he knew none had been called, spoke in favour of the application. He lived 250 metres way from the site and loved to hear people playing. He said there was a shortage of pitches in Brent and Kilburn based on his personal knowledge as a football player.  QPCS and Brent had a proud record of providing top players. He had played on the current grass pitch. It was water-logged in the winter and rock-hard in the summer. He spoke of the importance of sport and exercise for people's well-being and physical health.

The headteacher of QPCS, speaking  for the application, said that an all-weather 3G pitch was needed to enable her pupils to access the full physical education curriculum. At present pupils were unable to choose to do A Level PE because the necessary  facilities were not available.  Pupils from poor housing where there was not safe access to outdoors, needed the proposal facility that they could use after school. Brent Council was contributing £95,000 Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levey monies to the pitch deveopment. It would promote health and wellbeing and contribute to pandemic recovery. The school would balance community and commercial interests. 14 community organisations were supporting the provision including Brent Sports, QPR Hub and Brent Centre for Young People. The latter used football to help teenagers express their emotions in life-changing work. She concluded on the public good of the application, 'We all want a better society where young people are no longer at the mercy of local gangs or crime.'

Questioned by councillors the headteacher said Claremont and Capital City had received no complaints about their pitches, despite them having been opposed. Capital was open until 10pm.  Both had been fully booked.

Responding to a question about the need for commercial revenue from after hours lettings she said that the overall  capital cost would be £300,000 with £95,000 of that provided by the council.  The school would be committing £200,000 of its reserves  that trustees/governors would seek to recoup from commercial lettings over the next 3-5 years. This would replenish their reserves for other earmarked uses including school boilers.

The QPCS headteacher outlined to the committee the context of children travelling outside their postcode. Children's safety could be a deal-breaker with parents relecutant to let their children travel outside the area. There was a significant risk for young males from gangs, there were muggings and females risked sexual assault. This meant that provision at school, at the end of the school day was safer and would reassure parents.

There was a limited discussion about environmental concerns regarding the 3G surface of rubber crumb. BPRA had wanted a more envirommentally friendly surface The head said that staff had been concerned about this and were satisfied that the material would have a minimal impact on the environment.

Cllr Erica Gbajumo, speaking on behalf of all three Brondesbury Park Labour councillors said that they supported the proposal. Later opening was necessary because of people's working hours. She invited the committee to agree that some of the BPRA's claims were 'over-the-top'.

Cllr Kelcher, suggested that the councillors were taking a risk, ahead of the May local elections, in supporting the application despite residents opposition. Cllr Gbajumo responded that there were residents in favour but in any case it was not about the election but doing the right thing.

After further discussion the committee agreed suggested amendments to the conditions and voted unanimously in favour of the application.

From Brent Council website:

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions (as amended below) and informatives set out in the report and supplementary agenda:

 

Condition 7 – Community User Agreement to include clarification on the definition of Community Use, the availability of the facility for community use and the cost

 

Condition 9 – Tree report/planting schedule to be amended to allow flexibility in the location of new trees, to allow additional planting between the pitch and Aylestone Avenue and to provide for an increase in the number of new trees to be planted.

 

Officers' Report to Committee LINK

Statement on behalf of Brondesbury Park Residents Association LINK

A video of the Planning Committee discussion on this item (c90 minutes) can be see HERE