A COLLEGE principal has stressed there was never any “intent to upset local residents” with plans to create a new entrance and extra parking spaces at a sports field in Oldswinford.

Residents in Love Lane, Cobham Road and Oakleigh Road have set up an action group after discovering the trustees of King Edward VI College want to create a second access road, entrance and car park for 15 spaces at The Green Fields - in addition to the existing entrance off Swinford Road.

And more than 100 people protested at the playing fields at the weekend - to highlight concerns the plan will lead to traffic congestion and parking problems.

King Edward’s principal Remley Mann said the college's site manager for The Green Fields, Jeff Caseley, attended a meeting with residents on Monday (February 8) to discuss issues of concern and she told the News this morning: "It was never the trustees’ intent, in making a planning application to improve the facility, to upset local residents.

"Indeed, the trustees, the chair of governors and I share the view that it is of utmost importance to maintain good relations with those living near The Green Fields and we are keen to work towards a resolution in this matter. Mr Caseley has filed a detailed report of the meeting, which has been disseminated to trustees."

Mrs Mann said the college simply aims to improve facilities at The Green Fields, which recently benefitted from a £380,000 FA grant and a new sports pavilion, so the site can “continue to be used not only by King Edward’s students but also by a wide range of young people involved in community sports activities from across the Black Country”.

Action group chairman Richard Deakin said residents are not against the creation of a car park within the playing field grounds - just worried about the siting of a new, secondary access road in a “completely dangerous” location.

He said: “Everybody’s objected. There’s well over 100 people supporting this.”

Mr Deakin said the action group is urging the college to move its sports pitches closer to the fence on the Oakleigh Road side – near the proposed access road location – to enable further parking spaces to be created by the new pavilion which is near the existing Swinford Road entrance.

He added: “This would eliminate the need for these plans, and reduce the large levels of cars parked along Swinford Road.”

Mrs Mann said the college trustees, who are responsible for the site, will draft responses to the various points and matters of concern raised by the action group at Monday’s meeting and she added: "The trustees and I will seek to arrange a meeting with the representatives of the residents as soon as is practicable."

The plan, which has to date been recommended for refusal by Dudley's highways department, has not yet been given a date to go before the borough's planning committee.