Dundonald Recreation Ground dispute taken to Secretary of State

The planning application for Dundonald School will be taken out of the hands of Merton's planning committee and referred to the Secretary of State.

Three notices have just appeared on the railings of the Tennis Courts saying it's a "departure application" which breaches planning guidelines.

The notices also explain it's a "major development" and also "affects a conservation area".

Lorraine Maries chairman of Protect Dundonald Recreation said: "Our lawyers told the Council many months ago that this is a departure application. It is incredible that it has taken them so long to accept this."

The Council has also admitted that the application to the Upper Tribunal is to modify the covenant on the entire recreation ground meaning that a school building could be put anywhere on the Rec.

According to the rules this is in breach of the trust imposed by the Innes covenant.