Campaigners from Roe Green Village have won a huge planning victory after Powerleague announced it would ditch plans to build a large floodlit sports complex on Kingsbury High School’s Bacon Lane campus.

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/environment/relief-in-roe-green-village-as-council-rejects-powerleague-application-1-5082567

Powerleague, which runs commercial football pitches across the country, confirmed this evening it would no longer be appealing Brent Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the project.

Neighbours in the village had opposed the complex from the off, believing it would “kill off the conservation area”.

Powerleague lodged an appeal jointly with the school to the Planning Inspectorate in January this year after the town hall plans were initially rejected in June 2017.

In May, the Inspectorate agreed to hear the appeal in public, having initially said it would do everything in writing.

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/environment/roe-green-battle-back-on-as-powerleague-puts-in-appeal-for-commercial-football-pitches-1-5349368

Speaking at the time, campaigner Debbie Nyman – part of the Roe Green Village Residents Association – told the Kilburn Times: “There’s so much at stake. The whole community is at stake. The area is at stake.”

Roe Green Village has spent June celebrating its centenary with a series of community events.

It has been a rocky year for the school. After the planning application was rejected last year, headteacher Jeremy Waxman stood down and was replaced by Andy Stainton – who then stood down himself in March this year only to be replaced by a returning Mr Waxman.

A spokesman for Powerleague said today: “This decision has not been taken lightly, as this was a unique opportunity for the school to provide facilities for their students which they have made clear they will not be able to finance independently.

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/environment/powerleague-roe-green-villagers-battle-against-commercial-football-pitches-is-back-on-1-5529519

“Unfortunately, there is a group of residents that are unwilling to accept these proposals and we have therefore decided that we do not wish to operate the facility within that context.”

He confirmed the decision has no bearing on other Powerleague facilities in the area, and said Kingsbury High School was disappointed at the decision and now considering alternative options.

The Times has been unable to contact Powerleague or Kingsbury High School directly following the issuing of this afternoon’s statement.