Pupils turfed off Shropshire school field over safety worries
Children at a Shropshire primary school have been banned from using their school field due to health and safety reasons.
Now staff and pupils at Tilstock Primary School are appealing for help from the community to fund a new fence to make the area safe to use again.
At a meeting of Whitchurch and Prees Local Joint Committee held in Tilstock Village Hall, headteacher Julie Stuffins-Jones said the field had become unsafe due to the fencing not being adequate and problems with litter.
Mrs Stuffins-Jones said: "We have had an issue at the school for several years. The school field is viewed as a play area for the village but it is owned by the school. It is the only green space in the village. It is an honour to see the children in the village laugh and play and use the space.
"We are responsible for the fencing, grass cutting and litter collection.
"But the school is liable for the space. My concern is that over the years regulations have increased immensely. There are a lot more safeguarding rules and pressures.
"The field no longer reaches those safety guidelines and from September we have not let the children use the field any more."
Mrs Stuffins-Jones told members of the public and committee members that she wanted to continue to share the space with the community so hoped they could help.
She added: "I am here to represent the children.
"I am here to ask for a solution. The field belongs to us but the children cannot use it.
"This is mostly due to two reasons – the fencing and the growing litter problem.
"The fencing around two sides of the field are not adequate. They are dangerous.
"There is also an increasing amount of litter. I can concerned about children playing on the field with broken glass lying around.
"Our school budget would not stretch to replace the fencing.
That is why we really want your help: we do not want to take money out of the funds set aside for the children's education.
"We want the field to continue to be a community asset so we now need the help to continue to do this."
Mrs Stuffins-Jones said the fence would cost about £4,000 to £5,000 to replace.
Anyone with fundraising ideas is asked to contact Shropshire Council, Whitchurch Rural Parish Council or the school on (01948) 880347 or admin@tilstock.shropshire.sch.uk
