Residents to oppose school's new sports pitches

St Bede's School wants new rugby and football facilities on farming land south of Arlington Road, at Upper Dicker.

A planning application was turned down in August 2007 but the school is going to try again.

Sally Wellings, marketing director, said: 'We will be submitting a new, slightly amended application for the playing fields.'

The Upper Dicker Residents' Association voted unanimously to oppose any new plans when it met inJanuary.

Secretary John Parsons told the Express a new application would be examined on its own merits.

He said: 'We should wait and see but if the application is to still build four pitches we will oppose it.

'It is a very bad idea for all the reasons we have given before.

'The Cuckmere Valley is not the place to do it and neither is behind a state primary school.'

St Bede's School is near Park Mead Primary School.

Mr Parsons, a Coldharbour Road resident, feared St Bede's would keep making planning applications if the new bid is successful.

He thought the school would want extra facilities for floodlighting and changing rooms.

Mr Parsons added: 'Our fear is, as we have found with the school in the past, this won't be the end.

'It is eating into the village amenities.'

The residents' association is writing to the school to arrange a series of meetings about issues of mutual interest.

Lewes MP, Norman Baker, thought St Bede's needed to be careful to take the views of the public on board.

He said: 'The devil will be in the detail.

'I think the school is an important land owner in the area but it is very important it takes on board public opinion.'

The school has three sports pitches and one Astroturf for its 800 pupils.

Other facilities include a riding stables and a practice golf course.