| |
Park pitches bid needs schools’ backing
Bid to woo headteachers as planning decision looms on controversial football complex
PARKS bosses are under pressure to prove schools will use five-a-side football pitches in Regent’s Park before a controversial development can get the green light.
Under environment laws safeguarding public parkland, the Royal Parks and sports giant Goals Plc must show there is “proven demand” for the scheme.
The application means pulling down between 60 and 70 trees and building nine caged five-a-side pitches, a car park and open a fully licensed bar.
The scramble to woo schools started this week with Royal Parks releasing letters from Camden and Westminster sports units backing the nine pitches, which will be available to the community for 400 hours a week at a discount rate.
Westminster School Sports Partnership manager Suzanne Warren said the scheme could benefit 52 schools.
She said: “Fourteen of our schools are located within walking distance of the park and there are many others who would be able to access the facilities using public transport.”
Her counterpart in Camden, Ian Warren, said: “The facilities could make an actual difference between participating or not due to the removal of travel and transport barriers.”
But a close inspection of the Royal Parks’ survey shows support for the scheme from schools in Hampstead, Bayswater, West Hampstead, Maida Vale, Victoria and Highgate.
The only school within walking distance of Regent’s Park that will “definitely” use the pitches is Christ Church School in nearby Redhill Street.
Campaigners fighting the proposals say the survey does not prove “need” and are growing increasingly confident about overturning the application when it is heard by Westminster council planning chiefs on December 13.
Malcolm Kafetz, chairman of the 1,200-strong Friends of Regent’s Park, said: “We have conducted our own survey and found that it is the private schools that can take advantage of the pitches. Schools simply do not have the resources to take children up there.”
The debate reached Parliament this week with Karen Buck, Labour MP for Regent’s Park, quizzing minister Margaret Hodge over targets set by the government for the Royal Parks’ income.
Ms Hodge revealed the government had forced the Royal Parks to increase its income by 10 per cent each year for the past seven years.
She said: “The parks must deliver greater value for money for the taxpayer through increased income generation and reduced dependency on vote funding.
“The Royal Parks exceeded the target by achieving income of £9.3 million. We are discussing with the Royal Parks targets for the next spending review.” |
 |
|
| |
| |
