THE FUTURE of a playing field earmarked for new schools will be discussed at a public inquiry.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) will consider an application by a protest group to protect Rokeby Playing Fields by registering it as a town green.
Last September the Education Funding Agency (EFA) applied to build the permanent home of Rugby Free Secondary School and the new Rugby Free Special School on the fields.
Sally Chant, chair of Sustainable Hillside And Rokeby Education (SHARE), said she was delighted the group’s case would be heard in public.
She added: “We hope the Education Funding Agency will follow the example set by the Co-op at Oakfield Park and back down rather than face the residents of Rugby in an inquiry.
“However we need to be prepared for the Agency to continue to object to our case.
“I would like everyone who has used the fields in the last 20 years or who is prepared to contribute towards the costs our legal team to get in touch.
“Rugby Borough Council agrees that our area is already short of open space and we need to fight to keep what we have.”
SHARE argues local residents have established a right to use the fields for ever as they have been using the field for games and exercise for over 20 years.
Separately, WCC planning officers have been considering the EFA’s proposal and will discuss it in a meeting of Regulatory Committee on June 6.
A WCC spokesman said: “We are able to proceed with the Education Funding Agency’s planning application. This will have no effect on the village green public inquiry.
“An inspector has been appointed to consider the Rokeby Green inquiry to ensure an impartial approach and preserve the integrity of the process.”
