A bid to build a sports park has pitted the interests of a village secondary school against the local parish council. 

Acle Academy, which has a roll of more than 500 students, is seeking permission to build a new multi-use sports area on an unoccupied section of its playing field. 

According to documents submitted to Broadland District Council, the park would include three tennis courts and two basketball courts with a three-metre tall fence.

Further six-metre tall fences would provide backstops at either end of the court to prevent balls from leaving the court and entering homes that neighbour the area.

Eastern Daily Press: The proposed sports court would make use of a corner section of the school's playing field. The proposed sports court would make use of a corner section of the school's playing field. (Image: Google Maps)

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The plans are facing an objection from Acle Parish Council, which said its councillors "fully support good sports provision for the young people but believe that the site is unsuitable".

Clerk Pauline James said the park would be very close to several neighbouring dwellings, especially those in Aldis Road.

She also said the plans provide no details about the operating times for the sports facilities or about any lighting. 

"Even so, the noise from the facilities would be very disturbing for the neighbours, including the very likely event of balls going over the fence into neighbouring gardens," she added. 

A resident of Aldis Road is also objecting over concerns about the visual aspect of the high-level fencing and noise intrusion.

"This is less critical if restricted to school hours and term time, but would not be welcome if used in the evenings, weekends or holidays," they added.

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The development would be the latest in a series of investments aimed at improving the once-ailing school after it was placed into special measures by regulator Ofsted in 2015.

Wensum Trust, which runs the school, has invested more than £1m in improving facilities including replacing its roofs, windows and heating over the last eight years.

The school was rated good by Ofsted inspectors last year, the second-highest rating available.