SARAH Mobberley is not old enough to vote, but in three minutes might just have changed Herefordshire Council planning policy.

The Leominster teenager spoke up for more play facilities on her estate. The plea has implications for communities countywide.

Though the northern area planning sub-committee approved the application - 20 new homes for The Marches Housing Association at Middlemarsh - that Sarah, 14, was fighting, councillors were full of praise for the fight she put up.

So impressed were they that a change of play area policy was proposed, to near unanimous approval.

Sarah, a student at The Minister College, is the youngest objector to address a Herefordshire Council planning committee since the public was allowed to do so under the 'three minute' rule introduced earlier this year.

Play space

She used her time to tell the committee that the new houses would take up what little open land Middlemarsh had left for play. And play space was much needed on an estate with around 500 children where ball games were banned, she said.

"The council and the housing association seem to consider that a swing and a small climbing frame is all that is required - it is not."

What Sarah wanted was a 'free' mini-sports/recreation area that bridged the generation gap.

Councillor June French said she could not support such a concept with Bridge Street sports centre so close. But she praised Sarah's points as worthy of wider assessment.

Points 'ably made' said Councillor Barry Ashton who spoke of 'piecemeal development' providing 'piecemeal play areas'. He, too, wanted a new look at the issue.

Councillor Terry James called for a full overhaul of play area policy. Token slides and swings were not enough, he said, when what youngsters needed was space for 'informal games'.

"They want to do it. They will do it. We need to provide it. Otherwise every community, every estate is going to have a problem. Our policy is wrong."