East Hoathly School could soon have its own outdoor play space

Land next to East Hoathly Primary School could be used as a play area by the school if plans before Wealden Council are approved.

The school currently uses the neighbouring village recreation ground for sport and outdoor play activities and planning documents say bringing the field at Church Marks Green into school use will allow pupils to have on-site facilities for outdoor play in a secure and safe environment.

The land includes a track way described as unusable due to overgrown hedges and the school would like to turn that into a school garden.

A mobile classroom isolated from the rest of the school by the track could then be accessed from the main school site.

Negotiations are under way with neighbours whose properties back on to the track way to allow them access to their homes for oil deliveries and other planned access without compromising school use of the land or the pupils’ safety.

Ownership of the land was transferred to East Sussex Children’s Services in October last year following an agreement with Wealden Council and Hillread Homes over adjacent housing which has now been built in Church Marks Green.

A planning statement says space on the school site is limited and the educational value of the land to the school will bring “huge benefits” to pupils’ learning and safe guarding.