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Dec 2020

Last Updated: 29/12/2020

Education

St Aidan's floodlit pitch plans set for refusal

by Thomas Barrett

| 29 Dec, 2020

The 2,000-pupil secondary school says the pitch is 'urgently required' but nearby residents believe the 15-metre high floodlights would cause light pollution to their homes and the nearby Stray.

Councillors look set to refuse St Aidan's Church of England High School's plans to build a new floodlit artificial pitch.

The 2,000-pupil school has said the pitch is "urgently required" but nearby residents have complained the 15-metre high floodlights would cause light pollution to their homes and the Stray.

St Aidan's, on Oatlands Drive, withdrew a previous application in March last year following concerns by residents about light pollution, noise and traffic.

Now Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee has been recommended to refuse the school's latest application when it meets on Tuesday.

In a report to councillors, case officer Jeremy Constable said noise and lights from the pitch would have a "significant adverse impact" on the surrounding area even though a new pitch would benefit the school and local football teams. He added:

"Whilst the proposal undoubtedly involves public benefits arising from the development, these do not outweigh the harm of the impact of the development on residential amenity and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area."

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The previous application said the facility would close at 10pm on Monday to Friday.

The latest plans reduced the closing time to 8pm but still received 40 objections, including one from the Stray Defence Association, which said the lighting would have an "immense and detrimental" impact on the Stray.

Robert Holmes, from project management firm MHB Partnerships, explained on behalf of St Aidan's why the new facility is "urgently required".

He said current facilities were "woefully inadequate" and prevented the school from hosting sports fixtures.

He added there was a shortage of 3G artificial pitches in Harrogate, made worse by Harrogate Town replacing their artificial surface with grass over the summer due to English Football League requirements.

He wrote that the floodlights would be directed onto the pitch and no lights would shine on neighbouring homes, adding:

"The school cares greatly about their relationship with their neighbours and make every effort to listen to any concerns raised by them. The comments published on the planning portal have been read and digested by the school and it is considered that the school has done as much as possible to address the concerns raised."

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St Aidan's floodlit pitch plans set for refusal

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