Protecting where we play in Gloucestershire: Active Gloucestershire supports national call to protect playing fields

Active Gloucestershire is supporting a national petition led by Fields in Trust, calling on the Government to better protect the UK’s playing fields.

The petition is backed by leading sports organisations and well-known sporting figures. It raises serious concerns about proposed changes to the planning system that could make it easier for playing fields to be lost to development.

In Gloucestershire, there is already a shortage of playing pitches. Local studies show that there are not enough football and rugby pitches to meet current demand, especially for young people and adults. This pressure is expected to grow as the population increases.

Active Gloucestershire believes that Sport England plays a vital role in protecting these spaces through the planning system. As a statutory consultee, Sport England helps make sure that decisions about development are based on evidence and that playing fields are not lost without good reason or proper replacement.

Once a playing field is gone, it is very hard to bring it back. These spaces are essential for grassroots sport, physical activity, mental wellbeing and bringing communities together.

Kirsty Dunleavy-Harris, Chief Executive at Active Gloucestershire said “Playing fields are not spare land – they are essential community spaces. If we lose them, we lose opportunities for people to be active, healthy and connected. In Gloucestershire, we know how vital these spaces are for not just grass roots sports but to everyone in the community.

“Now is not the time to weaken the protections that keep these spaces available for local communities.”

Active Gloucestershire is also concerned that the loss of playing fields would affect some communities more than others. Areas with fewer green spaces and higher levels of deprivation are often under the greatest pressure from development, yet they rely most on local, accessible places to be active.

Richard Fishlock, Strategic Lead for Facilities and Active Environments at Active Gloucestershire added “Sport England’s involvement in planning does not stop development. Instead, it helps secure better outcomes, such as keeping pitches within new developments, improving the quality of facilities, or making sure replacement pitches are available for community use.

“By supporting the Fields in Trust petition, Active Gloucestershire is calling on the Government to treat playing fields as essential infrastructure and to protect them for future generations.”

Active Gloucestershire encourages clubs, organisations and residents across the county to support the petition and help protect local playing fields.

For more information about the petition, go to https://fieldsintrust.org/about-us/news/leading-sports-figures-and-organisations-sign-our-open-letter-to-save-uks-playing-fields