Hockey club to build pitches on Hove school playing field

Two obstacles could prevent a Hove school from turning part of its playing field into two all-weather hockey pitches.

The first is a request by Labour councillor Gill Mitchell for a “call-in” – or rethink – of the decision to lease land at Blatchington Mill to Brighton and Hove Hockey Club.

The second is the possibility of a legal challenge by neighbours in Holmes Avenue and Nevill Avenue.

If Councillor Mitchell’s request for a call-in succeeds, Brighton and Hove City Council cabinet members will have to reconsider the decision that they made on Thursday (10 November)

Last Thursday cabinet members voted to grant the hockey club a 20-year lease at a peppercorn rent.

They also voted to lend Blatchington Mill School £350,000.

Councillor Mitchell said: “I was very concerned to be told at the meeting that none of the cabinet members, including the cabinet member with responsibility for schools (Councillor Sue Shanks), had seen the business plan and so had been unable satisfy themselves that there was no financial risk to the school from this deal.

“If anything were to go wrong with this financial deal, then as the Greens said themselves, the school will pay the price and I’m worried this could impact upon the future standard of education at the school.”

“I think it’s important we take a good look at the business model and properly scrutinise this decision while we still have the chance.

“Otherwise local parents, pupils and teaching staff may end up paying for this years down the line.”

Neighbours from Holmes Avenue and Nevill Avenue spoke out against the deal at the meeting.

Afterwards one neighbour said that they had clubbed together to seek legal advice and would consider going to court to try to stop the deal if necessary.

They are concerned about a number of issues, including noise and light disturbance.

They raised the matter of a restrictive covenant with cabinet members during the meeting and this will now be investigated by council solicitors.

Labour and Conservative councillors spoke up for the neighbours, dozens of whom also wrote to object before the council granted planning permission for the £900,000 project.

The hockey club currently uses pitches at Stanley Deason Leisure Centre in Whitehawk and at the Sussex University campus in Falmer.