Following close on the heels of Wednesday’s update, yesterday the Parish Council received six months notice, served by Warwickshire County Council on the community to quit the playing field on Headland Road.

In the meantime, Warwickshire County Council and Welford on Avon school intend to observe the terms of a 1962 Heads of Licence, a precursor to a more permanent licence that never materialised. This was adopted by the Parish Council at a meeting in October of 1962, but expired six months later. The minutes of that meeting and the Heads of Licence are provided for reference: 1962.10.23 – Heads of Licence – extract from WPC minutes book

Under the terms of that arrangement, the school make the field available to the community out of school hours. The Parish Council are to close the field gate at lighting-up time and open it at 09:00. The Parish Council take the view that school hours are from 08:45 – 15:25, as published on the school’s website.

The Heads of Licence were not a formal licence and were time-limited anyway. The Parish Council position is that over time, field-use changed by all parties, such that the original terms as set out were no longer relevant. Instead, a pattern of use emerged that was more dynamic. One in which the public used the field when the school did not. It was an arrangement that offered benefits all round. The Parish Council view is that this pattern of use should be re-established during the notice period.

Warwickshire County Council have promised that a new licence will be in place at the end of the notice period to ensure continued use. However, the Parish Council still have not received a proposal for a new licence, promised in a meeting on 10 Sep 2024.

The PC are committed to pursue a negotiated settlement. Key to this negotiation is that the PC, school and WCC communicate with each other. All parties must approach the negotiation with imagination, an open mind, consideration and respect. If this is not evident, then the PC will have no option but to pursue a legal route. They do, after all, represent the public of Welford on Avon and this is upper-most in the minds of those involved.

The PC are exploring a number of options to ensure a good outcome for both Welford on Avon residents and its primary school. Watch out for further updates.