Decision details

Heyford Park School landowner currently has a Community Use Agreement with Cherwell District Council for community use access to the sports facilities and changing rooms on the school site.

Due to the requirement to expand Primary School provision, the school is looking to re-purpose the existing squash court to provide additional classroom space as part of the overall development. The decision requested is for the approval of the loss of squash court provision and an amendment of the Community Use Agreement. Acceptance of the new dining room space (located next to the current dance studio) will be used as mitigation in, providing an additional space for the benefit of indoor sport activity for the local community.

Resolved

(1)            That the removal of the squash court and subsequent amendment of the Community Use Agreement be approved.

The decision to re-purpose the squash court at Heyford School will allow for the expansion of primary school provision. The current usage figures are low, and the provision of indoor sport has been mitigated through the usage of the dining room area as a multi-purpose space suitable for a variety of activities. 

Option 1: Maintain the squash court provision in the current location.

This option was rejected due to the location of the squash court around the alterations to the primary school provision. It would result in the squash court being located in the middle of the primary school and, therefore logistically not ideal for the community using the facility. This would also prevent the layout of the enhanced primary provision linking together.

Option 2: Re-provide the squash court at a different location within the school premises.

This option was rejected due to the lack of available space to build a squash court and the lack of funds to re-provide a squash court elsewhere. Similarly, there is limited evidence of need for a squash court given the usage information provided

No