Dudley school proposal to lease park for new sports pitch

A section of public park in Stourbridge could be leased by a nearby school to provide room for an all-weather sports pitch.

Members of the Ernest Stevens Trusts Management Committee at Dudley Council are to discuss a proposal by Oldswinford Hospital School at their meeting on October 22.

The authority, which administers the trust, has been approached by the school to lease a section of Stanley Road Playing Fields for the pitch. If trustees support the scheme around a third of the park, also known as Swinford Common, would be developed by the Heath Lane School as part of a £1m investment.

A report for the committee said: “The all-weather hockey, football and tennis pitch required by the school would meet the school’s statutory PE curriculum requirements for both girls and boys.

“It is understood the all-weather pitch would be required to be fenced off to prevent unauthorised use and enable the facility to remain secure and free from vandalism or pitch damage.

“The school is willing to consider a basis for making this all-weather facility available to the community on those occasions when it is not required by the school.”

The school has earmarked development on ground nearest the Stanley Road car park with two other football pitches on the open space reconfigured and retained for public use.

Members of the committee will be asked whether they wish officers to continue discussions with the school to develop options for further consideration. During the meeting committee members will also discuss the future use of the Mary Stevens Centre which was gifted to the borough Stourbridge in 1931.

The centre, which is located to the rear of Mary Stevens Hospice on Hagley Road in Stourbridge, is currently occupied by charities We Love Carers and Crafting for Communities.

A report for the committee recommends representatives from all three charities are invited to present their proposals for the future use of the centre, including feasibility studies on funding if the current occupiers were to be offered long-term leases.