Schoolchildren banned from playing ball in noise row

Young children have been banned from playing ball at playtime because neighbours have complained they are too noisy. Despite Barlby Community Primary School, in Hill Top, having been there for 100 years, three neighbours have complained to Selby District Council about the noise the children make at playtimes.

The complaints have been met with disgust by local councillor Brian Marshall. He said: “I am fuming. There has been a school on that site for more than 100 years. Why did they buy a house next to a school? For young children to be out playing and laughing, there is nothing nicer. The governors should do nothing and let the children play.”



Coun Marshall said the school had now decided to stop the children playing with balls in the playground and had staggered playtime for the different year groups. In a letter to parents Alistair McCloud, chairman of governors, said the school refuted all suggestions there was a problem with noise. But in an attempt to be a good neighbour he said the school had arranged for an acoustic fence to be erected. However, this did not satisfy the complainers and the moans continued. An offer to erect a further fence this year was rejected by the neighbours who asked that the children’s fun be curtailed.

Mr McCloud said: “We have now also been requested to stop any games in the playground area with hard balls and it is to this end that we have sadly removed the use of hard balls during school hours.” The neighbours have also made official complaints to Selby District Council. A spokeswoman for the council said: “We have a statutory responsibility to follow up complaints of this nature. We have been in contact with the school to discuss this issue and have taken no specific enforcement action at this time.”