SADLY, recent political events haven’t dimmed Paul Hughes’ appetite for ‘alternative facts’. It is quite legitimate to have an opinion like “I don’t like astroturf pitches and don’t ever want one nearby”. It is quite another thing though to distort objective facts that are easily available on the Council’s planning portal or claim “I hear it on good authority” for something untrue. Why not take the time to read the application properly and challenge it on how well it meets the legal planning requirements?

For the benefit of your readers, here are some genuine facts:

• Local residents live next to a large high school (off a busy road) attended by more than 1600 pupils, which is well used by the local community in the evenings, rather than a nature reserve with “birdsong, rustling leaves and distant traffic”. The proposed pitch site is currently mown grass, often flooded and unusable; in short, an eyesore.

• local residents legitimately challenged how well the previous design would address noise, light, ecological and parking concerns. The new application satisfactorily addresses all of these issues with the help of experts in their fields.

• the acoustic fence will adequately address the noise concerns he has. As part of an extensive range of environmental measures, there will be extensive planting alongside the pitch, which will screen the acoustic fencing. The nearest property will be more than 30m away.

• this is a community scheme backed by all the major sports clubs that will be mainly used by our wonderful children and young people.

• it is not a money-making venture for the school and the external funding requires that revenue raised has to be placed in a sinking fund to replace the playing surface in future.

• Otley Town Council has never been asked for £300,000. If planning permission is achieved and an application is made to Otley Town Council, then he application would be for a maximum of £100,000. The vast majority of funding for the project comes from external grant funding and community fundraising.

• Sport Chevin reviewed multiple alternative site options and there aren’t any. That is why, the external funding has been offered exclusively for this site – this is the right scheme, the right place, and the right time to help our community and our young people bounce back from Covid.

Some people would like your readers to form their views based on ‘alternative facts’. Don’t take my word for it, please read the application on the planning portal and see what a fantastic scheme the town could have. With your support, Otley can join its neighbours in Menston, Ilkley, and Horsforth in having modern sports facilities that they take for granted.

Richard Davies,

Chair, Sport Chevin