Field set to be fenced off 'saved my mental health'

A resident who lives near a field that could be fenced off for use by a school said that being able to use the open space had been a "saviour" for her mental health.

Nyree Ambarchian is one of a group of campaigners opposing the fencing off of part of Werrington Fields in Peterborough.

Council officers have recommended the move so that it can be used safely by students at Ken Stimpson Academy.

The cabinet will make a decision on Tuesday.

The proposal to fence off part of the field was first made in 2019 after "incidents of anti-social and threatening behaviour", and the issue has rumbled on since then.

Councillors will be asked to lease the land to the school to enable the field to be fenced off, but still allow access for the public outside school hours.

The pupils have not been able to use the field for sport due to concerns around safety.

The space has been used by local residents since the school opened in the 1980s.

Ms Ambarchian said that when she was a young parent, it was an important facility where she could enjoy nature, and it had been a "saviour" for her mental health when she was a new mum.

She said the local area lacked other open space, and the land was as much for public use as it was for the school.

A group called Save Werrington Fields was set up in 2020 after more than 1,300 people signed a petition to stop the enclosure.

The campaigners are calling for a compromise of two-and-a-half football pitches to be fenced off for school use with the remainder left open to the public.

Councillors will vote on the recommendation on Tuesday.

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