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New plans mooted for Regent’s Park pitches
PARKS bosses are eyeing-up new sites in Regent’s Park to build a five-a-side football centre.
Royal Parks Agency director Colin Buttery told the annual general meeting of the Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill on Monday that an announcement would be made by May.
Along with soccer company Goals!, the Parks planned to replace four acres of popular meadow – including 60 trees, rare bats and tawny owls – with nine football pitches, a bar and a car park.
But plans were thrown out in December following a three-year battle by protesters at an estimated cost of £100,000 to the Royal Parks Agency.
Mr Buttery said: “We are evaluating other locations in the park,” adding there were no plans to reopen the Regent’s Park Golf and Tennis School.
The Royal Parks Agency terminated the school’s lease last March after 99 years in the park.
Friends chairman Malcolm Kafetz had extended the olive branch to the Royal Parks Agency saying “we must begin to repair our relationship”.
He added: “The Parks are under great strain from the government to find funding. That is not right and we should start to support them.”
Many friends attending the meeting complained about commercial events and speeding cyclists.
Mr Buttery said: “For every one event we allow, we are turning 10 away. We are not simply maximising revenue. On the cycles, we are looking into getting fixed penalty notices.
“We are deciding how much the fine would be, but it would be more than £50.” |
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