Residents object to new sports hall plan for Liscard school (From Wirral Globe)

Residents object to new sports hall plan for Liscard school

1:03pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Geoff Barnes

HOUSEHOLDERS have created a furore over school extension plans designed to enhance the sporting prospects of more than 800 Wirral pupils.

People living near to St George’s Primary School in Liscard claim that the height of a proposed sports hall – on a site presently occupied by mobile classrooms – would be an eyesore, out of proportion and character with existing buildings and would be "offensive" to neighbours.

A petition signed by almost 40 people has been lodged with Wirral planning authority along with 11 individual letters of objections.

Among the 38 grounds of objection the petitioners claim the design of the sports hall - and a new classroom - would create a large continuous section of brick wall; add to highway congestion and cause loss of light to nearby homes.

They further claimed that neighbours would suffer disruption to their day-to-day lives and their peace and quiet would be shattered by contractors from early in the morning.

Planners argue that the new hall had been designed to meet Sports England standards for a unit capable of being used for badminton and indoor sports.

The height of the building – at 8.lm – was not considered to form an overbearing feature when viewed from nearby properties.

They further insisted that given the relatively small scale of the scheme it was not felt that nuisance would be caused to neighbours, particularly in respect of noise and disturbance.

They argued that no increase in pupils was proposed and consequently no increase in noise, disturbance or parking was anticipated during normal school hours.

The planned use of the sports hall outside schools hours would increase activity, they acknowledged, but this would be at a time when demand for parking would be reduced.

They pointed out that the extension would be built on land that could not be realistically used as a playing field or pitch and as such it would not result in the loss of playing field land.

The application will be studied by Wirral planning committee on Thursday. It has been recommended for approval.