Playing fields

That this House supports the Protect Where We Play campaign; notes the concerns raised by the Wiltshire Football Association and grassroots sports organisations across Wiltshire, including in Chippenham, regarding the Government’s proposals to weaken planning protections for playing fields; further notes that the proposed removal of Sport England as a statutory consultee would significantly reduce national oversight established in 1996 to prevent the permanent loss of playing fields to development; recognises that in Wiltshire grassroots football delivers substantial economic value and savings to the NHS, supported by thousands of volunteers, coaches and referees; further recognises that playing fields are essential community assets for physical and mental health, children and young people’s development, social cohesion and community wellbeing, and that once lost to development such assets are exceptionally difficult to replace; also notes that there is already an acute shortage of good quality football pitches in Wiltshire, limiting participation at a time when involvement in football, particularly among women and girls, is increasing; believes that weakening statutory protections risks irreversible harm to communities; and calls on the Government to retain Sport England as a statutory consultee, to maintain strong national planning protections for playing fields, and to work with organisations such as the Wiltshire FA to protect and improve grassroots sports facilities for current and future generations.