News / Cotham School
Cotham vows to continue legal fight ‘to protect playing fields’
Cotham School’s chair of governors has invited parents and carers to attend the High Court hearing that could decide the future of their playing fields following a long and protracted saga.
Sandra Fryer said that the school has employed a legal team made up of “a highly skilled barrister and expert solicitors” to present their case at the hearing that Stoke Lodge should not have been designated as a Town & Village Green “but should be playing fields forever”.
The case will be heard in the High Court which will sit in the Civil & Family Justice Centre on Redcliff Street from January 27 to 30, with closing submissions due to be held on February 10.
Most of the fencing around Stoke Lodge Playing Fields has now been taken down – photo: Betty Woolerton
Fryer, also chair of Bristol Civic Society, thanked parents and carers “for the many messages of support that we continue to receive from you on this matter”.
She said: “Now the new term is well underway I would like to update you with regard to the legal challenge to our school playing fields at Stoke Lodge…
“When Cotham School became an Academy in 2011, we agreed a 125-year lease of the sports playing fields.
“This is a lease from the City Council, who own the fields. This lease runs to 2126. Only Cotham School can end the lease.”
Cotham School students at Stoke Lodge – photo: Cotham School
Fryer added: “This is potentially a huge resource for young people and sport in Bristol.
“However, due to the ongoing legal case we currently run all sport classes either from the main school site, or from the SHINE site at Kellaway Avenue.
“Many of you are aware of the long running campaign there has been led by local people in Stoke Bishop to designate Cotham School Playing Fields as a ‘town or village green’.
“Since 2011 we have been working through legal and political processes to protect the school’s playing fields and ensure sports access for Cotham School students and other local young people for the long term.”
Main photo: Justice for Cotham School
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