RED tape protecting playing fields is threatening to delay a raft of school expansions across Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council has accused the Department for Education of frustrating plans to improve education in the county after the department demanded extra paperwork, justifying council plans to put up school buildings on land currently used for recreation.

A councillor has said schemes at eight rural primaries are on hold due to the 'silly technicalities', and the authority is now lobbying high-level politicians to end the stand-off.

The council has sent a letter to Education Secretary Damian Hinds and academies minister Lord Agnew stating: "DfE colleagues have requested additional information which has been over and above the requirements.

"Eight schemes are now at severe risk of not being delivered on time, which is unacceptable.

"The department seems to be frustrating the need to create places for children and secure good education outcomes for them all."

Dated March 6, it was signed off by the council's director for children's services Lucy Butler and stresses the 'essential' need to expand schools to meet an influx of new housing.

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Government policy protects 'playing field space,' which includes grass pitches and hard playground areas, and only permits authorities to build on them under strict conditions.

The council believes it has met those conditions but it has now been asked for extra proof that it has considered all other options.

Plans for a two-storey expansion at John Blandy Primary School in Southmoor, near Abingdon, were the catalyst for the department's concerns.

Oxford Mail:

Aerial view of the large playing field currently at John Blandy CE Primary School. Pic: Google Maps

In November the council applied for permission to build a two-storey block to house six new classrooms, which would take up some outdoor space.

It was hoped the work would be complete by this September, allowing the school to expand its reception class intake to 45.

The DfE has now requested reassurance that the council considered building upwards rather than outwards, and that the plan represents the most efficient use of public money.

The council's letter states that 'any design solution presented will have considered all aspects' and that 'surely our own statutory checks and balances should be sufficient.'

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It adds that seven other school expansion schemes 'have all been delayed pending assessment for John Blandy Primary School, as they all have common features.'

The other schools are: Chesterton CE Primary School near Bicester, Five Acres Primary School in Ambrosden, St Andrews CE Primary School in Chinnor, Longworth Primary School near Abingdon, West Witney Primary School, Marcham CE Primary School and Cholsey Primary School.

It notes that the schemes have mostly gained planning permission without objection from Sport England, which is the key consultee on applications affecting playing fields.

The letter adds: "The additional requirements seem unhelpful duplication at best.

Oxford Mail:

Previous building work at John Blandy Primary School in 2011. Pic: Google Maps

"There is a growing sense of frustration that three months after application, there is an impasse regarding how to take these schemes forward."

Speaking at the education scrutiny committee's meeting last week, the council's cabinet member for education Lorraine Lindsay-Gale said the DfE was delaying development due to 'silly technicalities.'

Councillor John Howson said at the meeting: "In terms of planning for the future [of schools], this council does very well. But policy decisions being taken at Westminster are fighting against us."

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The letter states that similar expansion schemes within the county, pursued by the ESFA rather than the council - the government agency that oversees academy builds - had been waved through by the DfE within weeks despite also resulting in loss of playing fields.

It adds: "There is a sense of a divided and unfair system."

Although two of the eight schools are academies, the council had already agreed to take on their expansion rather than the ESFA.

The letter calls for the council's expansion applications to be 'swiftly expedited' so work can start immediately.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "When considering applications to dispose or change the use of school playing fields, we have to be sure that all possible alternative options have been considered to avoid or reduce the impact on playing field land.

"We are liaising with the local authority to ensure we have the information required before making a decision."