| |
Mayor Ken comes out against Park pitches
THE Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is against plans to build five-a-side football pitches in Regent’s Park on ecological grounds.
He believes the plans – to demolish a popular golf and tennis school, axe more than 60 trees and concrete over four acres of public parkland – conflict with his London Plan.
He has contacted Westminster Council after being alerted to the proposals during a visit to London Zoo on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for the Mayor backed up his claims.
She said: “GLA staff have raised concerns that the development’s potential impact on the ecology of the park may be contrary to the Mayor’s London Plan.
“These concerns are currently being discussed with the authorities in Westminster Council.”
The plans, submitted by the Royal Parks Agency to Westminster Council, sparked a high profile campaign including Geoffrey Robertson, QC, Baron Moser and more than 1200 members of the Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill.
Many fear the application, if approved, will set a dangerous precedent allowing private gain from public parkland across the capital.
Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Blackburn, standing for the Abbey Road by-election, he was aware the pitches were being built but not that the golf and tennis school was facing closure.
The Mayor said he would contact Tessa Jowell to stop the project.
Mr Blackburn said: “He told me that he would speak to Tessa Jowell to see if anything could be done about that.
“It was useful to be able to speak to him and alert him to it.
“I was pleased to learn that he was totally against the destruction of meadowland in Regent’s Park for this private development.”
A spokeswoman for the Mayor added: “The planning application for the football pitches in Regent’s Park is not referable to the Mayor. This means that he does not have any direct planning powers on this case.”
Deadline for objections has been extended for the third time until April 27.
|
 |
| |
