High court trial to settle 15-year playing field row

A high court trial set to resolve a 15-year row between a school and campaigners over access to a playing field has started.

Cotham School in Bristol is challenging a decision by the city council to grant village green status to 23 acres of land known as Stoke Lodge.

The school, which leases the land from the council, erected a 6ft (2m) high fence around the area in 2019 to safeguard pupils, but residents argued it deprived them of green space.

A school spokesperson said they were confident in their case.

Helen Powell, from We Love Stoke Lodge campaign group, said she hoped they would be able to "make sure the land stays open for generations to come".

In June 2023, the council voted to protect Stoke Lodge for public use, meaning it cannot be fenced off to the public.

Cotham School, which was granted a 125-year lease on the land in 2011, said the decision would impact its ability to conduct sport lessons.

"We will be arguing that Ofsted and the Department for Education are very clear that you don't need perimeter fences," Ms Powell continued.

"Schools up and down the country do PE in public parks, there is no reason for Cotham to fence us out."

In a statement, Cotham School told the BBC: "We are confident in our case, however since legal proceedings are now live and the decision is in the hands of the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time."

The trial should last about five days, but a final ruling is not expected until later in the year.

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