Protecting and Enhancing the Sling Lane Playing
Fields
Following the ‘in principle’ approval by
Malvern Hills District Council’s Executive Committee to lease the
Sling Lane Playing Fields to Newtown Sports Junior Football Club on
a 25 year lease, a period of formal consultation will now take
place with local residents and user groups.
The consultation period will run from Thursday
12th August and conclude on Wednesday 15th
September. A public meeting will be held in Priory Lodge Hall on
Thursday 12th August and further consultation exercises
will be announced in due course.
The Council’s fundamental objectives of the
lease are to; protect the playing fields as public open space and
for sport and recreation provision; protect the wild life area and
the public’s right for full and free access; enhance the playing
pitch quality and encourage people to lead healthy and active
lifestyles; support the development of a small changing facility
and improve the access and parking issues currently seen.
Cllr Barbara Williams, the Portfolio Holder
responsible for improving the well-being of teenagers and older
people said: “The Council is committed to protecting the playing
fields for all forms of recreational use and through the lease will
prevent any future development of floodlights, a stadium or the
prevention of public access through the installation of a
fence”.
She continued: “Newtown Sports will be fully
accountable to a new management committee that will oversee the
management of the playing fields and will report to the Executive
Committee periodically”.
As part of the consultation period, the
Council will formerly advertise the proposal to lease the playing
fields through a public notice for two consecutive weeks.
Representations of support or objection can then be put
forward.
For further information about the Council’s
proposal, please visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/leisurefacilities
and click on Sling Lane.
