Pitching for ideas
Playing fields in Southwell that have been unused for a year look set for a new lease of life.
Residents are being asked for their views on how the former Minster School pitches, off Church Street, could be best used.
Southwell Town Council is negotiating with Nottinghamshire County Council to sign a long-term rental agreement for the land.
Mr Malcolm Rose, the town councillor leading the consultation process, said: “We want to use the land as effectively as possible, and we want to give the public the chance to put their views across.
“We have had some interest from Southwell United, which wants to use one of the fields as a football pitch, but at the moment nothing is set in stone and we are open to ideas.”
Since the Minster School moved to its new site on Nottingham Road, the fields have not been in use.
It consists of one large field, used by the school for rugby and cricket, and a smaller field used for athletics.
The total area covers around six acres and the two fields are separated by Potwell Dyke.
The town council chairman, Mr Graham Ball, said: “When we take over control of the land the town council have the responsibility of maintaining the space.
“This means we will have the the right to maintain the Potwell Dyke, which should alleviate people’s fears about flooding problems.”
Under the intended agreement, the town council will pay £4,000 a year for the next 99 years to the county council.
Mr Ball said: “The town council’s intention initially was to buy the field, to ensure the town had sufficient green space.
“But the county council did not think this was appropriate.”
While the fields have been inactive the county council has been maintaining them.
The town council will hold a consultation event on September 13 in the field behind Farthingate to rally public opinion about how the space should be best used.