Inquiry to be held over pitches plan

A Government inspector has been called in to settle a row over plans to develop sports pitches for a Stourbridge school.

The £9.5 million scheme for Old Swinford Hospital School hinges on the closure of a footpath and the diversion of another at Treherns Farm in Worcester Lane, Hagley.

A gating order was proposed by Dudley Council in March to allow agricultural land to be transformed into school sports pitches. But the scheme is being delayed after objections to the order.

Residents fear extra traffic from visitors to the site and noise from the games area.

Now the Government's Bristol-based planning inspectorate will launch a local inquiry. The inquiry has been set for March 2009.

Under the scheme, the public footpath at the southern end near the Hagley to Stourbridge railway line would be stopped up while the footpath which runs south-west would be diverted to create an alternative path to run south.

Planning permission was given for the scheme by Dudley Council's development control committee in November 2007.

A new games area and sports hall extension were unanimously approved by members.

The school, in Heath Lane, wants to create the multi-games area on the nearby land at Treherns Farm.

The plans are the first phase of a scheme to increase the number of pupils attending the school from 600 to 750 by around 2012. Other developments include a new teaching block.

Mick Freer, of Dudley Local Access Forum, which advises Dudley Council, said 40 people had received notification of the inquiry after they objected to the proposals. He welcomed the inquiry and urged protesters to put their views in writing to the planning inspectorate by January 2, 2009.

He said: "The people who have made objections will be able to make their case.

"It doesn't necessarily mean the application will be overturned. We just believe there wasn't enough information available to people at the time it was decided.

"We advised Dudley Council that the proposals would have a damaging effect on the countryside."

For information on how to object call the inspectorate on 0117 372 6372.