Neighbour opposes play area

PLANS to turn the former Peppard Bowls Club into a play area have been opposed by a neighbour.

David Sell, a former chairman of governors at Peppard Primary School, says the site is unsuitable and has urged the parish council to consider other options.

The council has agreed to consider leasing the land at the war memorial hall in Gallowstree Road even though it already has planning permission for a £50,000 playground on Top Common near the lay-by on the link road between the B481 and Colliers Lane.

The hall’s trustees are considering turning the old clubhouse into a tea room as they want to replace the £923 a year they received in rent from the bowls club, which closed in January.

Mr Sell, of Chiltern Road, told a meeting of the parish council that he supported developments for the benefit of the parish but felt there had been “very little” public consultation on the choice for a play area and the bowls club was “not a suitable site”.



He said: “I believe the parish council has already spent some money looking at locations. From my perspective, I would like the council to re-evaluate all sites and put forward a better recommendation.

“To give context, I think you will find two or three houses are within 20ft of the bowls club.”

Acting council chairman Simon Crouch replied: “It’s very, very early days in consideration of that site.

“The other site had been selected and this opportunity came up only recently and we had not reviewed it before.”