Planning permission for new security fencing at a Lancaster high school has been recommended for approval.
Central Lancaster High School has applied for planning permission to remove its current fencing and replace it with a new boundary fence and access gates.
A council report says "the perimeter fencing will prevent unauthorised access onto the school site and create a more secure environment for the pupils and staff"
The fencing would be green 2.4m high mesh fencing with associated gates, including a sliding vehicle gate.
A total of 36 objections to the plans have been received from members of the public, says the council report.
Reasons for objecting include the visual impact of the fence and the height is "not in keeping with local environment, effecting openness" and that the area is "used for recreation and walking, providing social and mental health benefits" and the fencing would obstruct views over the nearby field.
The council report says "Sport England initially objected to the application as the proposal would have resulted in the segmentation of approximately 0.52ha of playing field capable of providing pitch sports.
"The proposal has since been amended to prevent any segmentation and Sport England have withdrawn their objection.
"The local community consider that the site has some social value in terms of recreational activity and as a walking area and there have been multiple representations from members of the public explaining the value that they place on the use of the site in social and well-being terms.
"An enquiry was raised with Lancashire County Council regarding the ownership and use of the land, and they have confirmed that the playing field is leased to the Bay Learning Trust for a term of 125 years from Lancashire County Council.
"They also confirmed that the use of the land is a private playing field, and as such, use by the general public is unauthorised.
"There are no Public Rights of Way running though the site and the Public Rights of Way Officer raises no objections to the proposal.
"The fence will be green mesh which is typical of fencing to schools and sport sites, and is already used in some areas within the curtilage of the site and at other schools within the wider area
"Given the open mesh design and height of approx. 2.4m, the fence will not present adverse overbearing or overshadowing impacts on nearby residential properties. A number of representations have been received detailing that the fencing will prevent views over the playing fields, however, obstruction of personal views is not a material planning consideration that can be given significant weight.
"A number of comments have been received in relation to lowering the property value of the neighbouring properties. As there are various different factors which affect house values, such issues are not material considerations that can be taken into account in the planning assessment.
"Comments have also brought up previous applications for school fencing in the Lancaster District which have been refused. This is noted, however, each application must be assessed on its own merits and for the above reasons, the height, design and siting of the fencing is considered to be acceptable overall, and on balance."
Lancaster City Council planning officers recommended that permission be granted, saying "the proposed fencing and associated access gates are required in order to create a more secure environment for the pupils and staff. The proposal does not impact upon the quality or quantity of playing pitches or other adversely affect their use. The proposal is acceptable with respect to the sites Open Space, Leisure and Recreation Designation and with respect to the matters of design and landscape and trees."
The council's planning regulatory committee, a group of elected councillors, will make the final decision on the new fencing.
They will meet at Morecambe Town Hall on Monday September 30. The meeting begins at 10.30am and is open to the public.
A major building project has also been taking place at the school, including five spacious science labs and a technology suite which opened last September, and new English and Maths classrooms and a new library with views across the city in the second phase.
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