Join us, together with the Voice of Reason Choir, the Handley Page & the Victor Associations, and many others to CELEBRATE the playing fields’ medieval and aeronautical past, its present. and how together we can shape its future, next Saturday 13th May 2 – 4pm in front of Clitterhouse Farm Café.

Thanks to everyone who has already commented. Below is a summary of what together we have achieved so far and what still needs improving. Whether you have already commented or not, it is worth having your say here.

There is no change to the controversial 4 full-size, fenced-off, flood-lit, AstroTurf, pay-to-play area, 9 am – 9 pm every day of the year.

Partial 3 m high noise barriers are proposed to the south of the all-weather pitches. (See picture below.)

It is positive to see some proper noise mitigation measures in place. However, these might not be enough against the cumulative noise levels for everyone in the park and for Prayle Grove residents, who live at a similar distance from the football pitches. Although the barriers would be covered with plants, they will reinforce enclosure and further obstruct the long views to and from Clitterhouse Farm buildings, locally listed for their historical value.

The phasing has changed

The proposed CPF Part 1 area will be delivered in a single phase. Although the improvements to Purbeck Drive (in the immediate vicinity of the southern gateway to CPF) are outside the site, it is proposed that these works are completed at the same time as the CPF Part 1 area.

Our local Councillors, GGERA and its residents strongly objected to the omission of the South Entrance to the site on Purbeck Drive in the original application. This was a major strategic oversight. We welcome the Purbeck Drive improvements, as well as its proposed CCTV and the South Entrance being included in the overall governance and management of the park.

We have campaigned actively against the pay-to-play excluding local residents. Amended proposal includes 1,000 free hours per year for 5 years. This is good news for locals who would like to use the sporting facilities. It is not clear how this would operate.

We strongly objected to the lack of proper space for community use space, as the only multiple use space had a pay-to-play grass pitch. It is great news that the grass pitch is no longer needed and multiple use space will be available to the public throughout the year. However, this is temporary.

We have been actively asking for sporting activities to finish at 7 pm or at sunset, whichever is earlier. However, no concessions have been made to the negative impact that 9 am to 9 pm perpetual noise and light nuisance will have on the mental health and well-being of immediate neighbours, young children and those working from home. We would welcome peace and quiet to have allocated times each day, and in the yearly calendar.

A growing group of very concerned residents has been proactively researching AstroTurf’s risks to human health, environmental pollution, climate change and increased flooding. At a time of climate emergency, there is no justifiable argument to replace many hectares of natural grass with plastic grass laid on tons of toxic, polluting rubber crumb, leaking into Clitterhouse Stream, the allotments and, further down, into the Welsh Harp reservoir. We welcome the rephasing of the football pitches to Part 2 Phase 1, with the hope that in the meantime legislation will change and truly environmental materials become available.

Thanks to all for your continued support. If you’d like to know more about the above, have any questions or would like to share your views, please do join us on May 13th. Alternatively, you can email us at contact@ggera.org.uk. In any case, please keep in touch and have your say.

The pitches cause significant microplastic and chemical pollution in the environment. The decontamination of these green sites would be extraordinarily expensive. The petition asks the Environment Agency to ban local authorities from constructing any more pitches in parks and green spaces because they harm wildlife and people. It is also unsustainable development.

1. Rubber crumb pitch infill is made from used tyres and contains hundreds of toxic chemicals.
2. The rubber crumb particles are microplastics that escape easily into the environment and pollute soil, water, air, wildlife and people. Animals eat the microplastics mistaking the crumbs for food. Players accidentally ingest or inhale the particles. They can also be absorbed through the skin.
3. Rubber crumb contains hundreds of chemicals including carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, reproductive and developmental hazards. For example: Lead, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
4. PFAS forever chemicals have been found in the plastic grass blades and backing. PFAS chemicals accumulate in wildlife and humans. PFAS pollution is fuelling the biodiversity crisis. Exposure to the most studied PFAS is linked to an array of adverse health effects including thyroid disease, liver damage and an increased risk of breast, kidney and testicular cancer.
5. The pitches create wildlife deserts, destroying soil biodiversity, habitat and foraging sites.
6. The pitches are barriers to animal movement, fragmenting landscapes and harming ecological connectivity.
7. The pitches cause urban heat islands, reducing the quality of the air and release harmful chemical gases in hot weather.
8. Floodlit pitches cause light pollution that affects bats, insects, birds, other animals, trees and people.
9. The pitches increase the risk of serious flooding problems.
10. There are no facilities in the UK to recycle pitches