| |
Park bosses defend pitch plans
PARKS bosses have defended the financial package driving plans to build a five-a-side football sports in Regent’s Park.
Nick Biddle, park manager for Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park, insisted “it’s the best offer we had.”
The deal – which will lead to dozens of trees being axed and a woody meadow built on – will see the Royal Parks net up to £75,000 each year.
In return, Goals Soccer Centres, a private company, will make hundreds of thousands of pounds from nine five-a-side football pitches at a rate of £35-60 for an hour’s play.
During peak hours they could make up to £100,000 a month – just from the pitches.
The Royal Parks Agency say schools and community groups will benefit from the scheme with discount rates throughout the day.
Mr Biddle said: “If people are going to say that it is a bad deal I say there just wasn’t another. State schools will be able to use the facilities £1 a child. It is a brilliant opportunity.”
The five-a-side pitches will replace the Regent’s Park Golf and Tennis school after 99 years in operation. The school was not generating enough income to justify being there and Mr Biddle said it made commercial sense not to renew its lease when it expired in April.
But campaigners warn that allowing private firms to profit from public parkland is a major own goal.
A fully licensed bar will fuel teams’ celebrations at full time and the respected journalist Sir Simon Jenkins, who lives near the site, has claimed the scheme is “basically an alcohol licence”.
The Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, who vehemently oppose the plan, say Goals stands to profit from the late night bar.
They say the bar will be used for weddings and corporate events – while the noise of late night revelling and floodlights will banish a community of tawny owls and rare bats from the wooded grove.
|
 |
|
| |
| |
