Purpose

Heyford Park School landowner currently has a Community Use
Agreement with Cherwell District Council for community use access
to the sports facilities and changing rooms on the school
site.
 
Due
to the requirement to expand Primary School provision, the school
is looking to re-purpose the existing squash court to provide
additional classroom space as part of the overall development. The
decision requested is for the approval of the loss of squash court
provision and an amendment of the Community Use Agreement.
Acceptance of the new dining room space (located next to the
current dance studio) will be used as mitigation in, providing an
additional space for the benefit of indoor sport activity for the
local community.

Content

Resolved
 

(1)           
That the
removal of the squash court and subsequent amendment of the
Community Use Agreement be approved.
 

Reasons for the decision

The decision to re-purpose the squash court at
Heyford School will allow for the expansion of primary school
provision. The current usage figures are low, and the provision of
indoor sport has been mitigated through the usage of the dining
room area as a multi-purpose space suitable for a variety of
activities. 

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Maintain the squash court provision
in the current location.
This option was rejected due to the location
of the squash court around the alterations to the primary school
provision. It would result in the squash court being located in the
middle of the primary school and, therefore logistically not ideal
for the community using the facility. This would also prevent the
layout of the enhanced primary provision linking together.

Option 2: Re-provide the squash court at a different location
within the school premises.
This option was rejected due to the lack of
available space to build a squash court and the lack of funds to
re-provide a squash court elsewhere. Similarly, there is limited
evidence of need for a squash court given the usage information
provided