A partial Government u-turn means that Sport England will continue to be involved in decisions on the future of sportsfields, school playing fields and parks.
Original plans would have seen Sport England, and other ‘statutory consultees’ stripped of their legal-role and no longer notified or consulted on potential loss of green spaces for development.
Councillor Vida Wilson (Conservative, Moreton West and Saughall Massie) said: “Loosening protections on sports fields and green spaces, and even school playing fields, was a frankly ludicrous proposal by the Government. Thanks to the campaign against it, that part of the Government’s plan has been dropped.
“However, the Government is still limiting how much say Sports England should have, meaning they may not be told about plans to build on smaller sports fields.
“Whether it’s Peak Cluster’s carbon pipeline or the doubling of housing targets for Wirral, our open spaces, Green Belt and playing fields are at the greatest risk we’ve seen for decades.”
Fields in Trust is a charity that has been protecting the future of our parks, playgrounds, playing fields and green spaces for 100 years and they led the campaign against the plans.
Trust President and former professional footballer Jill Scott MBE, commented: “We welcome the Government's decision to retain Sport England as a Statutory Consultee in important planning decisions affecting playing fields.
“We had strong concerns that Sport England would be stripped of its role entirely, putting thousands of crucial playing fields at risk.
“Despite this campaign win, Sport England's role has been reduced in scope, with consultation now focused on the most significant cases, including applications involving the physical loss of playing fields for housing or commercial development, and substantial school or sports development on playing fields.”
Wirral Council has started work on a new Local Plan to incorporate the new target of 35,000 houses as instructed by the Government.
