A highly-contested 23-acre green space leased to a school to use as a playing field does not have to be shared with the local community, a judge has ruled.
Cotham School in Bristol has been in dispute with residents living close to land it leases at Stoke Lodge since 2019 when it erected a 6ft (2m) high fence around it.
Bristol City Council, which leased the land to the school, voted to give the site town green status in June 2023, but this status has now been revoked following a High Court trial.
Judge Paul Matthews ruled that the fact local residents had ignored signs warning against trespass did not mean they had use of it "as of right" and Bristol City Council was wrong to change it status.
The Redland school, which said it was "thrilled" with the legal ruling, was granted an 125-year lease on the land in 2011 due to lack of space on its inner city site three miles away.
It said it was forced to fence the site for safeguarding purposes and due to issues caused by out-of-control dogs and dog fouling on the sports pitches.
