A GROUP fighting plans for two new beach volleyball courts in a popular Oxford park staged a demonstration to show how big the facility would be.

The Friends of Sunnymead and Cutteslowe Park have been campaigning against the proposed site of the courts since Oxford Volleyball Club approached the city council last year to press for them to be built.

The two beach volleyball courts, complete with sand, will together measure 24 metres by 26 metres and are set to be built in Cutteslowe Park, North Oxford.

The Friends came together earlier this month to visit the site and discuss the plans after councillors delayed making a decision in July.

The group believes the courts will take up too much green space and took the time to stand on the site marking out how much space the courts would take.

But Oxford City Council has rejected the group’s objection, saying the courts would bring something new and fun to the city.

When plans to build the court in the field were submitted in April this year, the council received 42 letters of support and 13 against from the public.

Suzanne McIvor, a member of the Friends’ group, said: “The plan is to fence the courts, so what is currently a large and pleasant area of open space available to all will be dramatically reduced in size and lost to other uses. The Friends believe this is to the detriment of Oxford’s largest park.”

The group claimed that council officers said the courts need to be sited about 30 metres away from all trees, which means it will be placed directly in the centre of the field.

Mrs McIvor added: “We have no objection to beach volleyball per se, but feel very strongly that Cutteslowe Park is not necessarily the right place.

“The park is already well-used with two very popular play areas, a duck pond, wildlife areas, a cricket pitch, the miniature railway, mini golf, plans for a new splash pool feature, and more.

“The current car parking facilities are already inadequate at peak times .

“Beach volleyball courts to be used for players both beyond and within Oxfordshire will only exacerbate this, making the park less accessible to families.”

The city council’s active communities manager. Hagan Lewisman, said: “We think the two beach volleyball courts will bring something new and exciting to the city, adding to the wealth of facilities already available at the award-winning Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park, which includes football, cricket, three children’s play areas, skate park, ping pong table and tennis courts.

“The courts will be publicly accessible and, thanks to the hard work of Oxford Volleyball Club, have been fully-funded by Sports England.

“We have worked closely with stakeholders on the scheme and do not believe the courts will create significant traffic issues.

“Each court is only designed to be used by four people at any one time,” he said.

The plans will be discussed at a future meeting of the west area planning committee.