Overview

• Contractors demolished the multi‑use games area in Memorial Park after a prolonged dispute with three nearby homeowners over ball noise.
• The High Court in 2022 overturned an earlier ruling and issued an abatement order requiring closure or relocation, prompting the council’s decision.
• Legal representatives for the residents cited Sport England guidance recommending 30–40 metres from homes, saying the pitch sat much closer at the park boundary.
• The parish council said removal was the most sensible way to end a five‑year legal process and avoid further costs, with no compensation claim pursued by residents’ solicitors.
• The council plans a public consultation on future sporting provision and says any replacement would rely on grants and community funding, as parents lament the loss of space for older children.