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The school’s expansion and renovation plan, including fences around football fields to restrict public access, has attracted approximately 500 complaints.
The Telford and Wrekin committee has applied for the construction of a new three-story teaching building with locker rooms at the Holy Trinity Academy in Priorslee, as well as a full-size artificial court and a five-a-side grass court.
The plan also includes the construction of an eight-foot high fence around the existing grassland to the west of the site.
Telford MP Lucy Allan was one of the opponents, saying that "public green space" was "used and valued" by the community.
The district’s planning committee will discuss the proposal on Wednesday, December 14, and city council officials recommended that they approve the change, which they believe will lead to safer and better-maintained facilities.
The official report said: "Holy Trinity College is a 900-place middle school, including 150 places in the sixth grade, located near Teece Drive in Priorslee."
It said that due to the increase in population, the school needs to be expanded. A feasibility study commissioned by the Telford and Wrekin committee concluded that Holy Trinity is "the preferred option for the new 300 teaching areas", adding that if approved, the teaching area will be built on the existing school’s North and accommodate 24 employees at the same time.
The report added: "It is recommended to demolish the existing grass court on the east side of the site and replace it with a 3G court with floodlights," and pointed out that the facility will be surrounded by a 4.5-meter-long fence and six 15-meter-long floodlights. .
It added that on the west side of the site, “the existing grassland is proposed to be fenced with a green 2.4-meter steel mesh fence with access control”.
"It is recommended that, together with the existing school sports facilities and the proposed 3G stadium, access to external stadiums will be provided through a community use agreement," the official wrote.
They added that the details of the agreement will be negotiated by the Telford and Wrekin committees and the English Sports Association and finalized before the fence is raised.
The report pointed out that Ms. Allen, who has been representing Telford in Westminster since 2015, opposed the enclosure of the stadium and "required the planning committee members to fully consider the impact of the loss of this facility."
The parish council of St Georges and Priorslee also opposed it.
The report stated that these courts were "gifted to the community in 1991 by Baron Stafford for recreational purposes", and surrounding them would make them "no longer available for spontaneous use."
Members also expressed concern about the "noise caused by the use of 3G stadiums at night" and the increase in traffic caused by the expansion of the school.
Priorslee MP Veronica Fletcher issued a "call-up" notice, requiring the committee, not the planning officer, to publicly decide on the application.
Her worries also include "the houses east of the site are insufficiently lit, shaded and lost privacy."
The report added: “The public consultation process resulted in approximately 500 comments and objections,” and most of the points raised were related to the enclosure of the venue owned by the council.
"The LPA [local planning authority] recognizes the severity of the opposition," the official wrote.
"However, it is believed that the planning advantages of the proposal outweigh the disadvantages of enclosing the space.
"This will ensure that the school can meet its requirements for providing outdoor sports space, while also better protecting the children in the school.
"Through strict community use agreements, residents and sports groups can also access the stadiums. These stadiums will improve maintenance plans and reduce the risk of damage due to abuse."
A local democracy reporter covering Telford.