Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
10
Jul 2020
St Aidan's floodlights raises old concerns over light pollution
St Aidan's high school has put forward new proposals to build an artificial 3G football pitch with controversial 15-metre floodlights.
In 2016 the school submitted similar plans to Harrogate Borough Council — but withdrew them in 2019 after objections were raised around light pollution and traffic.
Objectors said the floodlights would have a negative impact on residents as well as on the Stray Rein section of The Stray.
For the school to receive grant funding from Sports England to help pay for the new facility, it must be open for community use outside of school hours.
The 2016 application stated the facility would close at 10pm Monday to Friday, which has been reduced to 8pm.
The floodlights in the new application are also telescopic which manufacturers say emit less light pollution.
Resident David Bell who lives adjacent to St Aidan's told the Stray Ferret the floodlights will have a “dramatic” effect on his property.
He said:
The new pitch, which would be built on existing playing fields at the school, would put St Aidan's on par with nearby St John Fisher which built its own 3G facility in 2017.
As well as being able to be hired by local football teams in evenings and weekends, the pitch would also be used by local C of E primary schools within the School’s Multi Academy Trust who St Aidan's said have an "acute shortage" of external playing fields.
Read more:
Harrogate College welcomes cash boost for apprenticeships
Student aims for dream job as an astronaut
St Aidan's borders the Stray Rein section of the Stray and Judy D’Arcy Thompson from the Stray Defence Association told the Stray Ferret that the floodlights would “impinge upon the tranquillity the Stray affords people”
She said:
The formal consultation period for the development ends on July 27.
The Stray Ferret has asked the agent MHB Partnership, who is working on behalf of St Aidan's for the development, for a response which they had not provided at the time of publication.
0