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'Berlin wall' school fence in Bristol to be completed
Hot:Loading... Date:2019-03-12
'Berlin wall' school fence in Bristol to be completed
A fence around a green space at the centre of an eight-year battle costing hundreds of thousands of pounds is set to be completed this week.
The land, in Bristol, was used as a park until a school three miles (4.8km) away leased it for sport lessons.
Locals have objected to a mile-long (1.6km), 6ft (2m) high perimeter fence being put up, due to safety concerns.
We Love Stoke Lodge said the £65,000 "Berlin wall" fence robs them of the "last bit of open green space" locally.
The field was sold to the council in 1947 for educational use and until eight years ago, Cotham School shared the fields with the community without issue.
It needs the space for sports lessons and matches because the school does not have enough land at its inner city site.
But the decision to install a fence has received intense opposition over many years.
'Bending the law'
A petition claiming the the fence needs planning permission has received more than 4,000 signatures. The campaign group said the council was "bending the law" by allowing the fence to be built under permitted development rights - rather than having to go through the full process of gaining planning permission.
Campaigner Helen Powell said: "If there had been a proper application process and if councillors had heard all the arguments and had decided that a fence could go up, well, that's the democratic process for you."
Local residents are also concerned over the treatment of trees on the site, many of which have orders to protect them.