More than £70,000 worth of fencing purchased by Peterborough City Council nearly five years ago remains unused in storage, as a bitter dispute over the future of Werrington Fields moves towards the High Court.
The fencing, worth £73,236, was ordered in 2020 to enclose the sports fields at Ken Stimpson Academy, part of the Four Cs Academy Trust. The contract, awarded to Garfield Builders Ltd after a competitive tender process, included both supply and installation. While the fencing was delivered, installation never went ahead, leaving the material stacked in a council-owned facility ever since.
“The installation did not take place, and the council did not pay for this,” a council spokesperson confirmed. “The fence has been stored in a council-owned premises since purchase and remains so.”
The council refused to reveal the storage site, citing crime prevention concerns under the Freedom of Information Act. “Given that the fence retains a value then we are exempting the location of the fence under Section 31 (1) (a) ‘the prevention or detection of crime,’” officials said. “Whilst there may be some limited public interest in knowing the storage location of the fence, there is greater public interest in not disclosing information which could lead to criminal activity and loss of a council-owned asset.”
The revelation comes as the council prepares to defend itself in a legal challenge from the academy trust, which is contesting a March decision to lease it only part of the fields. The trust had requested to fence off around 77% of the land, citing the need to safeguard pupils. Councillors instead approved a lease covering just one section, known as “Area C1,” while leaving another, “Area C2,” accessible to the wider community.
The Four Cs Academy Trust has applied for a judicial review, arguing the council acted unlawfully by splitting the land into two leases. It also disputes the council’s position that the trust should contribute to fencing costs, insisting the responsibility lies entirely with the local authority as landowner.
In its formal response, Peterborough City Council dismissed the trust’s claims as “generalised assertions” and confirmed it does not accept liability for either the trust’s legal fees or the full fencing costs.
Community campaigners who oppose fencing off Werrington Fields say the discovery that thousands of pounds worth of equipment has sat idle for years underlines a costly stalemate.
Save Werrington Fields, a group that has formally joined the case as an interested party, said the legal battle shows “a level of contempt” for both residents and councillors.
Nyree Ambarchian, a member of the group, told the BBC Local Democracy reporter: “From our point of view it just seems like a real smack in the face for local democracy. Everybody’s got to a place where they agree, and the academy trust are the ones delaying the process.”
Tender documents from October 2020 specified a 2.4-metre weldmesh barrier, new gates and a footpath, with the project originally scheduled for completion by March 2021. Instead, arguments over land use and cost-sharing stalled the scheme indefinitely.
Council records confirm the fencing remains in secure storage. Officials say the material still holds value but have not stated when, or if, it will ever be installed.
A spokesperson said: “Following the decision of full council in March, we remain committed to reaching a conclusion on this matter as quickly as possible in the best interests of everyone involved.”
The council also highlighted difficulties in retrieving detailed records about the procurement, noting that some officers involved in 2020 have since left the authority. In its FOI response, it added that transparency must be balanced against safeguarding sensitive financial information and the security of suppliers.
The High Court could now decide whether the council’s decision to limit the academy’s lease can stand. Meanwhile, £73,000 worth of fencing continues to gather dust, caught in the middle of a long-running row between school leaders, councillors and the community.
