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staff outside the golf and tennis school |
Jobs threatened by park five-a-side pitches plans
Golf and tennis school faces eviction to make way for football HQ
EIGHT staff at a popular golf and tennis school in Regent’s Park will lose their jobs if controversial plans to redevelop the site win approval later this month.
The Royal Parks Agency and Westminster Council want to demolish the school, concrete over a public meadow and build 10 five-a-side football pitches, a car park and a licensed bar.
Private firm Goals Soccer Centres, which announced profits of £4.7 million last year, wants to build pitches on the site of the historic school, which opened in 1908.
The application faces fierce opposition from more than 1,200 members of the Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, including Lord Levene, academic Baron Claus Moser and human rights lawyer and writer Geoffrey Robertson QC, who uses the school.
They say the application for private development on public parkland sets a dangerous precedent.
Frederick de Saram, 26, the school’s golfing professional, said: “Everyone’s future is hanging in the balance. If Goals Soccer Centres win the bid eight people will lose their jobs by the end of March.
“Nobody has really thought about what to do if the worst does happen. We’ve all just been putting our energy and focus on the campaign.”
The golf school is housed in a temporary building. Mr Saram said: “The school was looking forward to updating the building but since news of the proposed measures we have had to halt the plans.”
The bid has already affected business as the school cannot risk taking on new staff or buying equipment.
“If Goals wins the bid the school will close by March 31,” Mr Saram added.
The school’s proprietor, Chris Meadows, 44, a former golf professional, said: “To take this place down and replace it with football pitches and a bar is an outrage. Regent’s Park is a grand old lady and you don’t take a knife to the grand old lady.”
Howard Richards, tennis teacher at the school since 1971, said: “It’s very sad that after 100 years the place will have to close like this.”
Westminster Council planning chiefs will make a decision on March 31.
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