A long running Werrington Fields fence dispute in Peterborough has reached a turning point after work began on fencing off a field once shared between a school and the local community. Campaigners say they have now “lost the key battle” after more than six years of opposition.
The Save the Werrington Fields group has been fighting plans to fence part of the land next to Ken Stimpson Academy since 2019. The group argued that the field should remain open for public use, as it has been shared between students and local residents for many years.
However, the school has maintained that part of the field must be enclosed to support student safety and sports activities. School leaders said safeguarding concerns made the fencing necessary to create a secure space for pupils during physical education and other activities.
Work on a 2 metre high fence has now started, marking a major development in the Werrington Fields fence dispute. Campaigners say this effectively ends their main effort to stop the enclosure, although they plan to continue pushing for public access outside school hours.
Tony Forster, a leading campaigner, said he felt deep disappointment after years of involvement in the campaign. He described the situation as a significant defeat but said he still hopes the community can access the field at agreed times.
He said the group believes a compromise could have been reached earlier if all parties had agreed to adjust the plan. Despite the setback, he said campaigners are not giving up completely and will continue to raise concerns.
His wife, Jan Forster, who has also been active in the campaign, said the open field was one of the main reasons they moved to the area. She said she was upset that local people are now seeing a familiar green space being fenced off.
Some residents support the school’s decision. The Reverend Alison Williams said she welcomed the fencing work, adding that student safety should come first. She said she could not understand why the project had caused so much disagreement in the community.
Other residents strongly disagree. Dog walker Diane Harvey said the fencing felt like “theft” of shared land that has long been used by local families. She said children regularly play football there during summer and that losing access would be a major loss for the community.
The field has been at the centre of ongoing negotiations between Peterborough City Council, the school trust, and local residents. A revised agreement now sets out how the space can still be used by the public at specific times.
Council leaders say the arrangement allows for shared use of the land depending on schedules. They added that access for community groups and sports activities will continue, especially during weekends and school holidays.
Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum said the agreement provides flexibility for how the field is used over time. She said the goal is to balance school needs with community access in a fair way.
Under the agreement, the school trust says fencing part of the field is necessary to ensure proper safeguarding for students. The Ken Stimpson Academy has maintained that secure boundaries are important for pupil safety during school hours.
The Werrington Fields fence dispute highlights the wider challenge of balancing public access to green spaces with school safety requirements. While campaigners feel a valued community space is being reduced, supporters of the project argue it is needed for education and safeguarding.
As fencing work continues, both sides remain divided. Campaigners say they will keep pushing for maximum community access, while school leaders maintain the fence is essential for student wellbeing and secure learning environments.
