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Anger at plans to build pitches on Regent’s Park
HEAVYWEIGHT campaigners are hoping to put the brakes on plans to build ten five-a-side football pitches in Regent’s Park.
The former Lord Mayor of London Lord Levene, Baron Claus Moser of Regent’s Park and human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson, QC, are battling alongside more than 1,200 members of the Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill to save a four-acre plot of land from private development.
The Royal Parks Agency with private company Goals Soccer Centres plc have applied to Westminster Council to demolish the popular Regent’s Park Golf and Tennis school, axe 60 trees and build ten five-a-side pitches, a fully licensed bar and a car park.
In return for the land Goal Soccer Centres will fund the expansion of the nearby running track to meet Olympic standards and the Royal Parks say local schools will get a cheap rate on the facilities that will cost footballers £60 an hour.
But the campaigners say the proposed Goals Soccer Centre – with ten pitches surrounded by a four-metre high perimeter fence – will transform the tranquil beauty of a densely wooded meadow on the north side of the park into an “eyesore”, desecrating wildlife and creating traffic chaos.
Mr Robertson, who regularly uses the facilities, said: “This is an irresponsible breach of trust by those responsible for keeping Regent’s Park as a unique environmental asset for local residents. For no reason other than commercial greed, they have decided to turn this quiet meadow, with its important golf and tennis facilities, over to football supporters drinking and carousing until midnight, with all the associated noise and pollution.”
Colin Buttery, spokesman for Royal Parks, said: “We believe this will provide a great opportunity to get more people involved in sport. Under our agreement with Goals, more than 50 per cent of the time will be allocated to schools and community groups at preferential rates.
“We have canvassed a lot of different opinions before going to planning – from The FA, sports groups and educational establishments to residents. Local schools in particular show lots of support for the scheme.”
The appeal deadline is now March 1. |
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