Stanway councillor and Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas says a proper conversation is needed with residents about the sports ground in Shrub End

FOR years, there have been rumours, counter-rumours and more rumours about future plans for the tennis courts and sports grounds in Shrub End.

The previous administration never denied that there were “studies” going, on but myself, and just about all the residents, had tended to assume this was for the fenced off “derelict” courts on which they planned to build a small number of houses.

However, upon taking over the council in early June, we found there were very active plans to develop the entire site, including a big chunk of the green space, with 130 to 160 houses starting possibly in 18 months’ time.

Now, no-one can deny we need housing, but we also need open space and sports facilities and once they are gone, they are gone.

Not just for us but for every future generation.

I’ve put the plans on complete hold, but a conversation needs to be had – fully involving local people this time – as to what is possible, and what is wanted, for the area.

Have we got too many tennis courts?

Should we consider covered courts?

Should the derelict courts be brought back into use or would the space be better used for other sports?

Gazette: Paul Dundas

Stanway councillor and Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas

Some of the original plans included the possibility of a medical centre, which is needed in the area.

Could a small amount of land be given over to that?

What I am clear about is concreting over all of it is not an option as far as I am concerned.

This is a different situation to Middlewick.

The council actually owns this land and it hasn’t been allocated for housing by planning, so what we do with it is totally in our own control.

We need to make sure our sports facilities and open spaces are spread, as much as possible, evenly across the borough.

We can’t just lump them all in one place.

We also need to make sure we are covering as many sports as possible, including tennis, with high-quality, well-maintained offerings.

Last month we opened a fantastic new sports park at Northern Gateway, in Cuckoo Farm Way, which I would strongly recommend everyone checks out.

Now we need to turn attention to the south of the town and deliver something just as good in Shrub End.

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