The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Declares that there is growing concern in Madeley about proposals that would limit public access to College Fields, a green space that has been used by the community for many years; further declares that the prospect of fencing and restricted access has caused significant local opposition and raised questions about how decisions affecting the site are being made; further declares that College Fields is an important part of community life in Madeley, providing space for informal recreation, wellbeing and outdoor activity and therefore losing or limiting access to this field would have a real impact on local residents; further declares that local people have been clear that they want College Fields to remain open and accessible, and that any decisions about its future must be taken transparently and with meaningful community engagement; and further declares that imposing changes without proper consultation risks undermining trust and damaging a valued local asset.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Staffordshire County Council to commit to protecting College Fields, to rule out the erection of fencing or other measures that would restrict public access, and to work constructively with Madeley residents and local stakeholders to agree a future for the site that reflects the needs and priorities of the community.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Adam Jogee, Official Report, 24 February 2026; Vol. 781, c. 305.]
[P003164]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Josh MacAlister):
The Department for Education recognises the concerns raised by Madeley residents regarding access to College Fields and understands the value of local green spaces. It is not unusual for concerns to arise where members of the public have historically accessed land that is part of an operational school site.
The land in question forms part of the Shaw Education Trust’s leased school site, following Madeley high school’s conversion to academy status in 2013, and was also educational land and part of the school’s site, prior to this date.
Open access can hinder a school’s use of its grounds for teaching, sport or outdoor learning, due to issues such as littering, dog fouling and unauthorised use.
The Department for Education encourages schools and local authorities to engage with residents when concerns arise. The school and residents may come to an agreement that allows the residents access, but access arrangements must remain consistent with safeguarding requirements and the proper operation of the school to protect education use. Agreements may include limited access times and, optionally, maintenance and repair conditions.
Additionally, if an academy trust determines that part of its site is genuinely surplus to educational requirements, it may propose to surrender that land back to the local authority, subject to Secretary of State consent. If consent is granted, the local authority may then consider making the land available as public open space, subject to further Secretary of State consent. There is no requirement on an academy to release land, and any consent would only be granted where the academy can demonstrate the land is genuinely surplus. It is therefore for the school and local authority to consider their needs.
The assets of community value regulations allow communities to nominate land for listing by the relevant local authority as an asset of community value. However, an exemption to these regulations ensures that this process does not prevent disposals for state-funded school sites. This reflects the principle that education assets should be protected for education use.