Fishponds Playing Fields closes to the public as Easter Holidays end

Fishponds Playing Fields has now closed for leisure public use and will only be open to visitors when it's booked for organised sport.

The Playing Fields has been a constant battling point for passionate local residents and the council.

The council made the decision to keep the Fields open throughout the entirety of the Easter Holidays.

The Fields were closed again yesterday evening.

Forever Fishponds, a group that campaigns for the green space to be open to the public, has constantly spoken out against the restrictions to the green space.

The Fields were reportedly due to be open until 9pm yesterday, but as the planned cricketers didn't attend the gates were locked at 4pm.

A spokesperson for Forever Fishponds said: "Sad to see visitors turned away. For now, the field is empty and locked and no clear sign of when it will be open again.

"Very sad."

Part of the council's previous statement on the matter reads: "As the name implies, Fishponds Playing Fields exists for the use of local schools, colleges and sports clubs for organised team sports like football, rugby and cricket.

"As one of a scarce number of designated sports pitch sites in the borough, it is not compatible with general leisure use."

You can make bookings for the Playing Fields on the council website.

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