Similar scheme proposed in Regent’s Park
Hundreds of protestors marched through Regent’s Park yesterday in a last ditch attempt to scupper plans to build a five-a-side football complex near London Zoo, according to the New Camden Journal. Local residents formed a powerful lobby group with over 1,200 members to fight this proposal. see http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/2007/120607/news120607_05.html.
It’s interesting to note that in this case the plan is proposed by the Royal Parks Agency rather than the local council (Westminster, whose dominant Conservative councillors interestingly opposed the development). According to the NCJ councillors are concerned that although the application is unwanted by all local politicians and community leaders it will be passed because it complies with planning regulations.
It will be heard in Westminster Council City Hall, Victoria on December 13th at 7pm.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:18 am
I don’t know the history of the Regent’s Park case but it does seem to have gone a long way down the line if it is coming up for planning this week and underlines the importance of trying to kill of these schemes before they start to gain momentum
Rather than wait for Wandsworth to organise a public meeting and choose the agenda why don’t we who oppose plan a show of solidarity by holding a well advertised silent vigil on the common one sunday morning inviting all the community to participate and asking councillors, officials and decision makers along to see the strength of opinion. It needs to be well organised.
We cannot afford to sit back and expect this to go away.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The Regents Park proposal seems as bad as Wandsworth’s for our common and has raised enormous objection, but there is an interesting distinction in the legal position.
We are fortunate in that commons have additional protection from development over that of other open spaces such as Regent Park. Although parts of the common can be enclosed for special purposes, permission is required from the Secretary of State. One or more Public Inquiries would be necessary.
This, of course would not necessarily result in a positive outcome, but would make the proposal more open to objection.
The council officers are being very vague about their plans and giving a lot of reassurance about consultation. The key question however was not raised at the outset - ‘Do we want the Triangle Field to be developed for five-a-side football?’ The council would be aware that the answer would be a firm ‘NO’ and are now trying to bulldoze their plan through.
There is no evidence that the council have made any attempt to find external funds to refurbish the playground - this makes the motive for their development suspicious.
Similarly, the council committee paper (07-755) makes clear links between the Woodfield Recreation Ground and the development, yet Mr Simon Cooper-Grundy, at the recent MAC meeting, appears to say that they are quite separate issues.
As this is likely to be a long campaign it seems important that we do not lose momentum. Keep up the good work!
December 14th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Latest news on the planned development of Regent’s Park:
14/12/08
Westminster throws out
Regent’s Park football pitch
plans
Controversial plans to build a football complex in Regent’s Park have been thrown out by Westminster Council.
The Royal Parks agency applied to demolish the golf and tennis club on the north side of the park to make way for nine floodlit pitches on synthetic grass near London Zoo.
The proposals sparked a record number of objections to the council including 670 letters, 10 petitions with almost 2,300 signatures and 1,465 signed postcards.
Protestors included BBC broadcaster Sue Magregor, columnist Sir Simon Jenkins, Lloyd’s chairman Lord Levene, academic Lord Moser and horse racing pundit John McCririck.
Westminster’s planning committee said the pitches would damage the habitats of plants and animals, especially bats and tawny owls, and mean the loss of 68 trees.
The committee also voiced concern that the site is almost a mile from the nearest Underground station and does not have adequate access and parking facilities, so could cause congestion in and around the park.
Other objections were made by the Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, English Heritage and the GLA.
Councillor Robert Davis, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “We do need more facilities for young people but this is not the right site. This application would have an adverse impact on the area’s ecology and would lead to a loss of woodland and local wildlife.”
Former pupils of the golf and tennis school, which closed this year, include Des Lynam, Hugh Laurie, Thierry Henry, Noel Gallagher, Kathy Lette, Glynis Barber and Heather Mills.
Don’t miss the 24dash.com
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