Since publication of this post, the situation has changed. Update: Playing field closure – July update – additional

Following close on the heels of the Parish Council’s last update on 17 June 2024, a letter was received by our solicitor from Warwickshire County Council’s legal department. The letter reflected many of the points made to the Parish Council previously in communications from school governors and specify three main pre-conditions before a meeting can take place.

The PC has responded with two letters of our own. The first was written by our Chair, to the Head of Property Services at WCC, who is our first point of contact at WCC for discussing this topic. The second letter was from our solicitor to the Head of Legal Services at WCC.

The Parish Council response to each of the preconditions is:

1. Cessation of Negative Comments
   Negative comments are to be expected if children are not able to play in a safe space. Comments come from our community. They need no encouragement or amplification by the Parish Council. Indeed, the PC recognise individual’s right to protest and encourage those who wish to protest to do so in a respectful manner. Negative comments will stop if school governors relent and the public gate to the field is opened.
2. Acknowledgement of the legal position
   In short, the Parish Council have been asked to accept that a licence exists. In its absence we do not feel able to do this. The school have categorically stated to the Parish Council that a licence does not exist. We certainly don’t have a copy of it, nor does it seem WCC have a copy, so we are unable to confirm a licence exists.
3. Commitment to Positive Engagement
   The Parish Council are fully supportive of positive engagement and are pleased that the school has offered to commit to meet in the same spirit.

Subsequently, the Parish Council has received a response from our contact at WCC. We have been invited as a first step to meet with WCC’s Property Services and Education Services departments. This is progress. Education Services have been investigating the situation on behalf of WCC and the Parish Council are keen for feedback. The Parish Council are pursuing this as quickly as possible.

We await a response from WCC’s legal representative.