New plan for 3G sports pitch at Harrogate school set to be scrapped over noise and light concerns

St. Aidan's High School submitted new proposals for the sports pitch in June after warning its existing grass field had been "unusable" over the previous six winters due to flooding problems.

The school said football matches and PE lessons have been consistently cancelled and that building a new floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch would not only benefit students, but also local sports clubs.

However, planning officials at Harrogate Borough Council have recommended the proposals for refusal at a meeting on 5 January after complaints from more than 40 people living in the area.

A council report said noise from the sports pitch would be "intrusive, disturbing and annoying" and that the bright floodlights would be seen from the Stray.

It said while the facility would bring clear benefits to the school and sports clubs, there would be a "significant adverse impact on residential amenity due to the associated noise levels during the evenings and at weekends."

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Noise-reduction measures including an acoustic fence and rubber fixings have been included in the plans but the council said they would not go far enough to avoid upset for neighbours who live less than 20 metres away.

One objector said online: "For local residents, such as those in the Prince of Wales Mansions, the floodlights will be visible in full blaze in the evenings.

"The noise pollution from football, and the potential use for hard ball sports such as hockey and cricket, with balls banging on equipment, floor, netting, boarding, goals and shouting, whistles, loud voices until eventually at least 10pm in the evening, and at weekends, is likely to be intolerable."

The proposed hours of use for the sports pitch are 9am to 8pm Monday to Fridays, 9am to 5pm Saturdays and 10am to 2pm Sundays.

The plans have received letters of support from Harrogate Veterans FC, Pannal Primary School, Hi-Lites Netball Club, and county councillor Cliff Trotter.

A planning document from the school said: "St Aidan’s is the largest secondary school in Harrogate, with just under 2,000 pupils, but is the only one not to have a 3G facility.

"Our grass pitch is unusable from October to April/May and has been for the last six years due to standing water.

"Between September 2019 and December 2019 only one football match has been played on this grass pitch, and PE lessons were only possible for the first three weeks of the autumn term.

"An additional outdoor space which is always accessible and safe, would be of huge benefit to both the staff and pupils."

The planning meeting on 5 January will start at 2pm.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter