Protest against Ecclesall Primary School play area plan

Parents and local residents staged a protest against plans to turn the school grounds into a multi-purpose gaming area (MUGA).

The proposed development at Ecclesall Primary School in Sheffield would replace existing playing fields, which developers have said cannot be used in wet weather.

But at Monday’s protest, those who took part expressed concern about the impact it would have on the environment, flooding and traffic in the area.

The school said the aim of MUGA is to give children extra space on part of the grounds to use for free play, as well as organized physical education lessons and after school activities.

Documents submitted by the developers state that the school, located in a residential area, struggled to use the playing fields in wet weather due to the “sloping nature”.

It said MUGA would provide pupils with a “much improved” playing surface throughout the year.

This would be in addition to a small MUGA already installed to the north-east of the school as part of expansion plans over the past 10 years.

Ann Blanchflower, a local resident who attended Monday’s protest, said: “We feel that children’s free play on the green grass there is now as important as general exercise and sport – and they already have a MUGA that i can use it

“It is a massive construction that will take the green space forever. Then it can never be reversed.

“It will change the character of the visual impact for residents and we also have a big drainage concern.”

Anita Cox, another local resident, told the BBC: “All four of my children went to this school. The idea of ​​him being changed into a piece of MUGA is the most terrible thing.

“But it’s the children that worry me, the fact that their green space is being taken away.”

The application originally sought permission for a MUGA and a 100m running track, but the latter was later dropped from the scheme, which has since been recommended for approval by councillors.

Sheffield City Council’s highways and planning committee was due to consider the plans this week, but this has now been postponed until the end of the year.

In a letter to parents, Ecclesall Primary School said that once a decision had been made by the committee, school governors would take the views of parents and carers into account.

Any decision made would then be communicated to the entire school community, the letter also said.