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Cookridge: Playing fields use row continues
A row over the use of playing fields surrounding a Cookridge school rumbles on as the area remains fenced off despite council promises.
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Leeds City Council pledged to unlock pitches at the new Ralph Thoresby High School for public use at evenings and weekends.
The authority made the promise after a public outcry over a decision to fence off two public pitches at Tinshill recreation ground, Cookridge, for use by the new school.
The work to the new pitches was finished in December, but they have been locked up ever since.
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The Government recently announced plans to open more than 100 new or revamped playgrounds across West Yorkshire.
At the time, Children's Secretary Ed Balls said Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford councils would each be handed around 1.1m to fund new or refurbished children's play areas.
But at Cookridge, the gates to the two new pitches remain bolted.
Campaigner Alan Procter, who lives at Grove Farm Croft, said: "It's stupid; you've got brand new pitches and the kids can't even use them. These are pitches for the community as well and it's very frustrating.
"The responsibility to manage the recreation ground is with Leeds Council. They have agreed opening hours and have failed to enforce them."
Mr Procter led a campaign to stop the council fencing off the two pitches which are now part of the school.
The 1.8m fences have been put around two of six pitches at Tinshill recreation ground.
Council chiefs say the move is an essential part of the Holt Park Centre regeneration scheme.
Mr Procter said: "I am very upset about our field being locked up,
after all that money being spent on it, the deputations to the council, the petitions.
"We need an area here we can use as a park. It would be nice to be able to sit on a bench, among trees and a grassed area. All we get is fences and excuses."
A council spokesman said: "We were told two weeks ago that the gates to the sports pitches were not being regularly opened of an evening and have taken steps since then to ensure they are opened and closed as
agreed.
"We are determined to make these facilities available to local people on evenings and weekends and are reassessing arrangements to ensure this happens."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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