Postmaster leads pitch battle to stop house-building on city sports field

Alexandra Wood

A SUB-postmaster is heading a campaign to stop the latest attempt to build houses on a historic Hull sports field.

Barratt Homes Yorkshire wants to develop around half of the former Reckitt-owned site in Chamberlain Road, with the rest used for rugby pitches and changing facilities.

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However, local people want to preserve the green space, which acted as a “soak-away” during the floods of 2007, and are concerned that if Barratt gets a foothold the rest of the land will eventually be swallowed up by housing. They also are worried about the amount of extra traffic.

Serji Singh, who runs Jackpot Wines, in Chamberlain Road, said there was another option – with a local syndicate prepared to buy the land.

He has already collected 300 names on a petition: “All of the residents of Garden Village are up in arms about it. There is a plan B and the syndicate is prepared to reopen the clubhouse and changing facilities and restore it to its former glory.”

No one was available to comment from Barratt yesterday. The company has said it will donate funds towards a new clubhouse at nearby Pelican Park.

The sports field was originally set aside for workers of Quaker philanthropist Sir James Reckitt. It was sold to the Hull Brewery Company Ltd in 2000 for just under 200,000.

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