A DECISION was due to have been made last night (Thursday) to settle the dispute over the Churcher's College all-weather pitch, which was built in the wrong place last year. The pitch was erected six metres west of its intended location in the grounds of the Ramshill-based school. But rather than making the college move the giant structure, planners were due to recommend last night that East Hampshire District councillors allow the pitch to stay put. It would be on the condition that floodlighting columns were taken down from April to October, and that padding was fitted to reduce the noise of balls hitting backboards. It would also be dependent on limiting the times when the pitch could be used, and fitting time switches on floodlights. A report due to be presented at the planning meeting said: "The proposal is considered not to be materially different from the approved development, and steps taken by the applicant have reduced light spillage to an acceptable level. "Steps are also proposed to limit noise and disturbance from the use of the pitch." Residents, whose gardens back on to the site, originally opposed the building of the pitch, and now say they suffer noise-and-light pollution from after-school use. But Churcher's headteacher Simon Williams has always said he wished to maintain a good dialogue with his neighbours and claimed the incorrect siting of the pitch was an honest mistake.
