Kent School’s £700,000 Sports Field Stalled by Neighbors’ Complaints
A Kent school is unable to use its new sports field due to complaints from neighbors about noise disturbances
Kent, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, Cornwallis Academy, Sports Field, Noise Complaints
Boughton Monchelsea: So, there’s this school in Kent that just can’t catch a break. Cornwallis Academy spent a whopping £700,000 on a brand new sports pitch, but guess what? They can’t even use it! All because some neighbors are really upset about the noise.
The school got this fancy 3G artificial grass surface, but since August, it’s been sitting there unused. The council stepped in after complaints from locals, and now the students can’t play on it, nor can the school rent it out to community teams. That’s a bummer, especially since it was supposed to be a great resource for everyone.
Here’s the kicker: the council’s ban on using referees’ whistles was actually part of the school’s original plan. When they asked for permission to build the pitch, they promised it would be available for outside clubs after school. But the council got worried about the noise and suggested a no-whistle policy to keep the peace.
Initially, the school agreed to this, thinking it would help. But when the whistles started blowing anyway, the neighbors were not happy. They complained, and the council had to step in, threatening action against the school. Now, because of this mess, the pitch can’t be used at all, even during school hours.
Both the school and the council are trying to sort this out. The school even got experts to do a new noise survey, showing that the pitch isn’t as noisy as everyone thinks. But many neighbors disagree, saying the noise is still a big problem.
Now, the council is wondering if they even had the right to impose that no-whistle rule in the first place. They can’t control the noise from other grass pitches nearby, so it might not be fair to just ban whistles on the new pitch. A new application to lift the ban is on the table, but the council’s environmental health officer thinks the noise is still too much for the residents.
Residents are really feeling the impact. One mom shared how her son, who has ADHD, struggles to sleep because of the noise. Others have complained about the constant shouting and the bright lights from the pitch. It’s clear that while the school wants to be a community hub, the neighbors just want some peace and quiet.
As the council prepares to meet and discuss the issue, it seems like a tough situation for everyone involved. The school wants to use its new facility, but the neighbors are just trying to enjoy their homes. Hopefully, they can find a way to make it work for both sides.