VICTORIA College has withdrawn a plan to remove ‘historic’ fencing from College Field, after ex-pupils and Islanders raised concerns that it would detract from the character of the area.
The school had proposed replacing the white picket fence on Mont Millais with green wire fencing and ball-stop netting up to six metres high.
However, following the publication of 28 comments on the government’s Planning website, the majority of which criticised the scheme due to the visual impact it would have on the area, the plan has been shelved and a revised scheme is set to be submitted.
A comment from Allan Watts said the white fence was part of the ‘fabric’ of the school and surrounding area.
‘It is in evidence in the earliest photos of the College Field, including the iconic image of German officers playing football against the college teachers during the Occupation.
‘It is part of our history and deserves our protection, not neglect,’ he said.
‘What has happened is there is no planned schedule of repair and restoration and the fence has been allowed to deteriorate. That is not a reason to throw it away; rather to make more effort to stay on top of its maintenance so that the workload and the costs are properly managed.
‘Simply replacing it with something else is a lazy solution,’ he added.
Chris Minty commented: ‘The current fencing is iconic and has been part of the setting of Victoria College, which is a listed building, for many years and materially alters the setting of the site.’
He argued that the historic fencing should also be listed, adding: ‘The proposed metal fencing is very ugly and too industrial for a traditional education and sporting setting.’
Cole McLean described the proposed new fence as a ‘complete eyesore’ that would take away the ‘heritage’ of the school.
‘Don’t ruin and take away something that has stood there for decades and is a tradition with the school itself,’ he said. ‘All the character the playing fields currently have will be taken away and it will just look like a prison fence.’
The Historic Environment team also objected to the plan. They said the school would be of ‘national importance’ in England and remained of the ‘highest significance as a sophisticated picturesque institutional landscape’.
‘The desire to ensure safety from ball sports when a public road is in close proximity is understood,’ they added.
‘However, there will need to be a greater degree of sensitivity in the heights and placement of any sports-ball-catch fencing.
‘Adding modern steel wire fencing at three metres high [and] up to six metres high would have a disproportionate and damaging visual effect.’
