West Ned Extra - Letters: Right Royal opportunity

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 4 May 2007

Right Royal opportunity

• MARK Blackburn has been misinformed about the proposals for a new sports facility in The Regent’s Park (It’s a right Royal shame, April 20).
He is wrong about the size of the development, wrong that it will cater mostly for corporate clients and very wrong about it being built for profit.
Mr Blackburn fears that teenagers are being priced out of using sports pitches. That is exactly why The Royal Parks are proposing a new multi-sports and small-sided football facility for the local community.
If the planning application is successful, The Royal Parks has promised more than 50 per cent of the available time will be given over to community groups – especially schools – at discounts of up to 75 per cent on normal prices. That will frequently work out at about £1 per head for a game.
The proposed built development is less than one per cent (about 0.8 of a hectare) of the total park area (190 hectares).
There will be third-generation artificial grass, but it will protect the grass elsewhere in the park where currently ad hoc ball games take their toll.
Much of the current site of the old Golf and Tennis School will be returned to parkland; for every tree that will be cut down, two will be planted.
Local schools surveyed were enthusiastic about this development, as were many other sporting organisations.
Sport is a way of re-engaging with young people; the development will offer opportunities for safe, supervised activities that teach youngsters about leadership, commitment and team-working – not to mention providing plenty of enjoyment.
COLIN BUTTERY
Director of Parks,
The Royal Park

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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