Simon Cooper-Grundy, Head of Parks for Wandsworth Council confirmed Wandsworth’s intention to seek expressions of interest to develop leisure facilities on the Triangle area of Tooting Common at a robust Tooting MAC meeting last night. He also confirmed the intention to incorporate Woodfield Recreation Ground, which he desribed as metropolitan open land, into the Common. 

When asked, Mr Cooper-Grundy stated categorically that Wandsworth is not currently in talks with any potential development company although he said it was in discussion with one company (GOALS I think - can anyone confirm?) about another proposed development on the Putney/Richmond border. He said that in the new year, Wandsworth would be advertising in the trade press ‘to seek expressions of interest from organisations who provide these sorts of facilities’. He said it was possible there would be no interest. However if there is interest he said the public would then be consulted.

He explained that the background to this was driven by the fact that the Council needs to update the children’s playground and one o’clock club but doesn’t have the funds to do it. Developing the existing area into a new leisure facility and asking the developer to include a new playground and one o’clock as part of the deal is a good solution for the Council.

Many of the MAC members and members of the general public who attended asked where the evidence was that this facility was needed. Where was the paperwork that proved the ‘high demand’ that Wandsworth repeatedly refers to. Mr Cooper-Grundy declined to answer this question directly, inferring that public opinion could only be guaged once a potential developer had been identified and the Council had a better idea of what the development might look like.

It’s almost impossible to know where we are - is this a done deal? Despite the protestations that it isn’t, the intention to move the proposal forward without prior public consultation is very clear indeed. And, since Wandsworth isn’t prepared to consult yet, it’s really important to try and understand what local people actually want. Maybe there is demand for some development but not at the level being talked about? Is there an alternative? Could the money to revamp the playground be raised in a different way? Wandsworth has a reputation as a well-run, efficient borough - is it losing out on valid central funds?

What does seem clear is that if we do nothing at all, we’ll almost certainly see 12 flood-lit, all weather pitches being built on one of the most unspoilt parts of Tooting Common by the end of 2008. Rod Pearson commented on this site today, “We cannot afford to sit back and expect this to go away” and Rodger Evans added, “As this is likely to be a long campaign it’s important we don’t lose the momentum. Keep up the good work!” - and we plan to.

More and more people are signing up to this site every day and we plan to start a fighting fund so we can develop it further into a proper website (this was set up because it was quick, easy and cheap), which the blog can sit within.

2,500 business cards are being printed with the PRECIOUS logo and site details for distribution locally and posters are being developed.

We need to create a visual which shows a 3-D vision of how this might look. Friends of the group who’ve recently been out to see five-a-side complexes by the A3 and M4 are shocked by how enormous they are and how intrusive the lights are. Richard is hoping to help with this but like most of us is also busy with a day job - and a life! Offers of help to do anything would be great - contact us via mail@precious-tooting.info - generating awareness has to be our number one priority for now.

Moving forward, a great deal can be done and we’re developing a plan. Ultimately this development will have to go by the Secretary of State’s office (DEFRA) so we should think about what we might want to submit in protest / mitigation.

We will be launching to the media early in 2008 and plan a public event - possibly a giant nature walk soon after. Any and all thoughts welcome. Post a comment here or, if you don’t want to comment in public, email mail@precious-tooting.info.

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