Home   News   Article

PLANS to fence off a “nuisance” play park in Brockenhurst in a bid to stop noise problems have been approved by the national park authority.

The multi-use games area (muga), which is owned by Brockenhurst Village Trust, made national headlines when a neighbour unsuccessfully went to court in 2020 in a bid to have it secured overnight.

Despite winning the case, the trust was later told by New Forest District Council’s environment health team to take action to quieten the facility, off Highwood Road.

A meeting of the NPA’s planning committee heard the application sought permission for revisions to the current fencing which included the addition of three-metre high green metal mesh fencing.

It also included an additional two-metre cantilever at the end nearest the Tattenham Road properties to stop balls flying over.

A report to the committee said: “The installation of the fencing is to secure the site and allow it to be locked out of hours.

“This would prevent antisocial use of the facility late into the evenings.”

Sarah Neller, from the trust, told the meeting that it currently allows the facility to be used in winter between 8am and 5pm, in spring until 6.30pm and in summer until 8pm.

If booked in advance, the facility can be used for a further hour in summer.

However, due to its open nature, the trust cannot currently enforce this, she explained.

She added: “We have now concluded we could fully manage the facility if we have the ability to restrict its use to the opening hours.”

The committee voted unanimously in favour of approving the application.

As reported in the A&T, neighbour Marie Sampson claimed in 2020 that the muga posed her family a “noise nuisance” at their adjacent home in Tattenham Road.

She complained of balls landing in her garden and the sounds of swearing disturbing her work during the day.

But she lost the argument at Southampton Magistrates’ Court for it to be locked at night and was ordered by a district judge to pay £2,500 of the trust’s legal costs.