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Pastures new: Haberdashers' Aske's wants a new sports facility

A planning application for new changing rooms and sports storage sheds at an Elstree school has been delayed amid concerns it will be built on Green Belt land.

Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School, in Butterfly Lane, had an original application refused in June 2005 because it was considered there were insufficient grounds for development on the site.

Proposals re-submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council now include the redevelopment of an existing maintenance compound and car park to provide changing areas and storage space.

In the application, school bursar Shaun Wilson wrote: "Each boy should have adequate space to change, including a peg for clothes and a locker to secure valuables and other items. This is currently not the case.

"It is not practical or possible to 'double-up' on the use of changing facilities, or for the boys to change and take their belongings with them because of the age groups involved some are as young as eight years old, the need to secure and protect belongings from weather and the dispersed location of the pitches."

A decision on whether to grant permission was delayed at a Bushey and Aldenham planning committee meeting on April 24 to give councillors the chance to visit the site.

The report put before the meeting said: "Officers consider the applicant has demonstrated a case of 'very special circumstances'.

"It is concluded that the harm to the Green Belt in terms of visual intrusiveness is outweighed by the need to provide suitable changing facilities for the pupils and staff."

But councillors ordered officers to make a more thorough assessment of alternative sites to justify why the proposed location had been deemed the most suitable.

Councillor Martin Saunders said: "A few members had concerns. The building being proposed is substantially bigger than the changing rooms there at present, so the committee has to consider the implications.

"Under planning legislation it says educational buildings to be built on Green Belt land are considered inappropriate and should only be built under very special circumstances.

"What the members decided was that we didn't have enough information to make a final decision."

A list of conditions which may be included if the proposals are given the go-ahead include measures to protect trees and hedges and the need to employ a specialist groundsman at the site.

Ann Goddard, of Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society, said: "We initially had objections to this application. Although we oppose any loss of Green Belt land, it is our principle to not oppose a plan that would negatively affect educational purposes."

The school refused to comment on the application.

9:12am Saturday 10th May 2008

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