Report from the Leader of the Council in relation to the petition that has been received in pursuance of paragraph 30.1 of the Council Procedure Rules:
Save The Grove Eastward Ho playing fields and surrounding area
"According to your latest plan proposals for the North Felixstowe Development, apart from building around Grove Woodlands as well as on adjacent farmlands, Eastward Ho playing fields are going to be redeveloped to allow 125 homes to be built there (this is the proposed building on stable land and Eastward Ho only). Your lead mission statement says "leisure led development comprising green infrastructure, community facilities". I can't help thinking that this is marketing speak for destroying what is already a well-known location that is leisure led, comprising green infrastructure.
What Eastward Ho desperately needs is improved changing rooms for teams, and improved facilities for groundsman. Improved drainage (something that new building rarely helps with). The neglected children's play area also needs renovating. These are factors that should be looked at before destroying local green space. Eastward Ho doesn’t need making smaller when the town is growing (two new developments already built and a third underway) - the town needs to keep its large open areas for families and public to meet and play without having to prebook or spend money to access playing fields.
We all are regular users of the Eastward Ho playing fields for kickabouts, kite flying, games, picnics, and using the play area and outdoor gym.
Surely any development should focus on brownfield and then private land / farmland before destroying one of the towns few public access playing fields with full size football pitches and other leisure offerings."