The council has previously bought fencing for part of the land, which remains in storage

A long-running dispute over a school field which raised safeguarding concerns could be settled. Peterborough City Council’s cabinet will be asked to consider a way forward in a dispute about land forming part of the Ken Stimpson Academy site in Werrington on Tuesday, March 24.

The land in question remains open for community use, but due to safeguarding concerns the school is not using it for physical education and other outdoor activities. It is the only school in Peterborough without a fence around its playing fields.

Locals have argued that the land should remain unfenced and accessible to the public. The 4Cs Academy Trust, which runs the school, says the land needs to be fenced for reasons including safeguarding concerns.

The land in question is designated for education. The Department for Education has confirmed that this designation cannot be changed.

The council has previously bought fencing for part of the land, which remains in storage. At the upcoming Cabinet meeting, members will be asked to agree the following recommendations:

• For the council to enter a lease of the playing fields (known as Area C) with the 4Cs Academy Trust, excluding areas of land to be retained by the council for continued community use.
• For the council to enter into a new Community Use Agreement with the 4Cs Academy Trust governing the community use of the playing fields known as Area C.

A cabinet meeting last October saw members ask council officers to seek an adjournment of judicial proceedings brought against the council by the 4Cs Academy Trust. This related to a full council decision from March 2025 which tried to demise a smaller area of land than the area designated as education land to the school.

Cabinet members also asked council officers to negotiate with the Academy Trust on a lease which excluded a strip of land which could remain available for public recreational use. Following discussion between the council and the 4Cs Trust, cabinet will now be asked to make a decision which aims to bring the dispute to an end.

Councillor Katy Cole, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “After many years of procrastination we are close to being able to agree a way forward. It is so important, for the children of the school, that we do not allow any further delay.

“I would like to thank officers for taking Cabinet members’ instructions last October and finding a way forward with the academy trust. The proposed approach will allow pupils to once again access the outdoor space, whilst also attempting to balance the needs of residents by allowing a sizeable strip of land to remain in community use for dog walking and other activities.

“This would be in addition to other areas of open space in this part of Werrington and a Community Use Agreement which will allow the community to use the land known as Area C at specified times after school and at weekends.

“The recommendations to Cabinet look to meet the needs of all parties – the school, its pupils and the residents – but it is also the best option for taxpayers as a whole as it avoids what we know could have been a very costly Judicial Review process running into tens of thousands.”

Once a decision is made, the fencing currently in storage will be used. It is expected additional fencing will be needed to secure the entire proposed area.