Sporting ideas for field use
Disused former playing fields could be used for youth sporting activities again, under plans being considered.
More than 50 people responded to consultation about possible uses of the former Minster School playing fields off Church Street, Southwell.
The fields have not been used for more than a year. Southwell Town Council has agreed verbally to lease the fields from Nottinghamshire County Council, although it has not yet been signed.
The town council carried out consultation about the site last month and a report of the findings has been published.
Mr Malcolm Rose said the most favoured option was leaving the larger field as green space.
Cricket was widely supported as an option for the larger field.
Mr Rose said some favoured using the large field as a football pitch, but these were offset by others strongly opposed to the idea.
He said that there was agreement to make Squire’s Pond more visible and more accessible and to change the name of the fields to the Minster Fields.
Potwell Dyke Action Group asked for the lower parts of the smaller east field to be used as a wetland habitat for plants, and flowers and provide extra flood relief in the event of excessive rainfall.
According to the report, planting trees was a popular idea — if it did not spoil view of residents on Farthingate.
Some residents wanted to see a corridor of green plants and shrubbery running alongside Potwell Dyke.
Mr Rose said there had been a disappointing response to the idea of forming a Friends of The Fields group to care for the land.
A councillor, Mr John Robinson, supported the idea that people should be able to see Squire’s pond, but not to disturb the existing wildlife.
He said: “I don’t think people should be traipsing in there and messing about.”
Mr Robinson said he thought the grounds should be used for youth football.
He said: “I know there are one or two people who don’t want football posts there but I think it is important that we support activities for young children.
“You hear a lot of complaints about older children’s behaviour but this is how you keep them on the straight and narrow.”
Mr Graham Ball backed the idea of youth football.
He said: “When the school used it there were rugby posts and football posts there all the time. If they use posts that dismantle then I don’t think it would detract from the open space at all.
“But I wouldn’t like to see it used for adult football.”
The council agreed to make plans to make Squire’s Pond more visible and accessible and to leave the larger field as open space.
However, they agreed it could be used for youth sports on specific days, and only if a sports club liaised with the town council.
Members agreed to discuss in more detail how to to create a green wildlife corridor alongside Potwell Dyke.
