Fence at Stoke Lodge playing fields to be completed this week | Bristol Live

The completion follows and almost-decade long row over the playing fields

Work to build a controversial fence at Stoke Lodge playing fields is set to be completed this week.

Cotham School has locked horns with residents for years over the public access of Stoke Lodge playing fields, and its plans to erect a fence at the site.

In January work to build the fence finally began, but was quickly delayed after contractors were forced to stop work at the site because of intervention from a growing number of residents.

But six-weeks later work on the fence is in the very final stages and is expected to be completed tomorrow (Tuesday).

The completion of the fence is the latest development in an ongoing saga which has dragged on for eight years. And it is not expected to be over anytime soon.

The row was ramped up last year when Bristol City Council decided the school did not need planning permission for the six-foot high perimeter fence and that it could be built under permitted development rights.

Since then a petition asking for the council to reverse its decision and insist that the school needs planning permission for the fence has received more than 4,000 signatures - which was enough to trigger a special debate at a full council meeting.

However it is unclear how Bristol City Council can intervene and mayor Marvin Rees has repeatedly said he does not have any legal power in this situation.

But the ‘We Love Stoke Lodge’ community group, which is campaigning for continued public access to the playing field, believes the decision of council officers was “unlawful”.

The group has written to the council threatening legal action unless it reverses its decision to allow the fence under 'permitted development' rules.

Bristol City Council allocated the land to Cotham School for use as a playing field in 2011 and requires no payment from the school under the terms of its lease.

The school subsequently applied for Government funding for a project to transform the open space into a secure playing field. The school says it cannot safely hold PE lessons on the field unless it fences it off to keep out dog walkers and other members of the public.

But campaigners say community members are entitled to keep using the public space and that the fence will damage the roots of ancient trees on the site.

They have put in Town and Village Green (TVG) and Public Rights of Way (PROW) applications to the council. Earlier this year the High Court rejected the first TVG application.

Cotham School has refuted claims they want to stop the community from being able to use the site.

A spokesman said that the school had “made a commitment” that when the playing fields are not being used by staff or pupils then the gates will be left unlocked so that the community can access the site.

But they have said that dogs would be banned from the site.