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DAME ALLAN'S SCHOOL HAS BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR A NEW, FLOODLIT SPORTS PITCH DESPITE CLAIMS FROM NEIGHBOURS THAT IT COULD HAVE A “PROFOUND NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE”

19:27, 20 May 2025 A Newcastle school will be allowed to build a new, all-weather sports facility despite a row with its neighbours. Dame Allan’s School has won permission from Newcastle

City Council to build an upgraded hockey pitch at its base in Fenham. Its plans were approved by the local authority’s planning committee last week, amid complaints about noise and traffic

from nearby residents. Locals around Dame Allan’s boys, girls, and sixth form schools in Fowberry Crescent warned that the development could mean "disruption virtually all day, every

day” and was causing such concern that some are even planning to move house. Neighbour Steve Risebury told a planning hearing last Friday that residents accepted that their peaceful times

would be limited given they live next to a school, but that the longer hours that the new, full-size pitch could be used for risked having a “profound negative impact on our quality of

life”. He said that the loud and “unpredictable” crack of hockey balls being struck had led to him being woken up as early as 7.30am and asked councillors to impose strict limits on the new

pitch’s operation – requesting that it only be allowed to be used on two weekday evenings and not at all on Sundays or during the school holidays. A total of 229 people from 134 neighbouring

properties signed a petition opposing the all-weather pitch, which will be floodlit, saying it also risked an “unacceptable increase in traffic in an area incapable of accommodating it”.

Article continues below Wingrove ward Labour councillor Joyce McCarty also spoke against the plans at the hearing, saying that a new hockey facility was needed in Newcastle but that Dame

Allan's is “not the right place” and that the school “have not listened to many of the concerns” raised by neighbours. The school argued that the upgraded sports facilities would help

pupils compete to a higher standard and mean they will no longer have to be bussed to Jesmond to play competitive matches on a full-size pitch, as well as allowing for wider public use.

School governor Simon Bell added that a new parking and drop-off facility to be built alongside it would be “much safer” than current arrangements. Dame Allan’s planning application

acknowledges wider complaints about traffic around the school, but says it is “working with local residents and are dedicated to helping to reduce this as a separate issue from the sports

development”. It adds: “The playing fields are required to provide sporting and recreational facilities for the School’s pupils throughout the year. Article continues below "The

existing half-sized hockey pitch is not used for competitive fixtures because of its size and these take place off campus, which does not satisfy the requirements of the School as the

current facilities are not fit-for-purpose. Sport England also acknowledge that there is a shortage of usable hockey facilities across Newcastle.” The planning committee approved the plans,

on the proviso that there will be an 8pm curfew in force for the use of the pitch. Labour councillor Barry Phillipson said it was “sad to see the relationship becoming more and more

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