FACILITIES COULD BE AT RISK FROM MOVE, SAYS CHARITY

A NORTH East charity has raised concerns that Government proposals to reduce Sport England's role in planning applications could put the future of many of the region's sports pitches in jeopardy.

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The Government is consulting on plans to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee in a bid to speed up planning applications.

Rise, a regional health and wellbeing charity, says the move could see the North East lose precious playing fields.

The charity says Sport England's role provides an "important protection" and "vital safeguard" for sports pitches and fields.

In Northumberland, Sport England used its role to open up the sports facilities at Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham to wider community use when the school was rebuilt.