"Back our £1 dream home for sport" - CASA deliver final proposals for Edgwarebury ground
Published:03 February 2011
by STEVE BARNETT
A CRACK team of youth workers and sports coaches is hoping “to prove that money isn’t everything” after bidding to buy a neglected municipal playing field.
Camden Active Sports Association (CASA) is delivering its final proposals for Camden Council-owned Edgwarebury Sports Ground, in Barnet, to the Town Hall tomorrow (Friday).
The organisation, which is made up of community-based groups including Fitzrovia Youth in Action and the Bengali Workers’ Association, wants to create a thriving new multi-purpose sports pavilion.
Although CASA is sure it is not tabling the highest bid, it is pleading with Camden Council “not to put money first” when considering options for the 10.9-acre site.
CASA chairman Ash Rahman, who runs the highly-successful Pro Touch Soccer Academy, said: “We know full well that our offer isn’t one of the biggest being put on the table, so if it comes down to money alone then we don’t stand a chance.
“If the council wants to restore the site to what it was originally designed for – a sports ground – then we’re one of the leading candidates. All we’d ask is for those making the decision to think about the future.”
He added: “We might not be offering the biggest profit straight away, but the long-term rewards for what we’re trying to achieve will be priceless.”
The plans CASA wants to put in place mirror work taking place at Chase Lodge, in Mill Hill, where charity Camden Community Football and Sports Association is creating a new community sports venue.
CASA wants to regenerate the whole Edgwarebury site, restore the playing field and build a pavilion boasting modern sports facilities.
When complete the “community hub” will provide a full range of sports and dance activities, a café, childcare facilities and function rooms where young people can also study and take sports courses.
Mr Rahman said: “We’ve secured £350,000 for our initial bid, thanks to private investors who believe in our dream. If we’re successful we’ll instantly look to spend a further £50,000 on improving the playing surface and building temporary cabins so we can have the venue up and running by the summer.
“We’ll also start putting the money in place to build a community hub the borough can be proud of. It will cost roughly £1million and would be ready in time to celebrate the 2012 Olympics.”
A Camden Council spokesman said: “We are pleased to have received interest from a number of groups in the Edgwarebury Sports Ground. All proposals will be considered on a competitive basis as part of the council’s statutory duty to residents.
“Camden supports a range of voluntary sports organisations to encourage greater participation in physical activities. We will continue to balance this commitment while ensuring disposal of this site meets the best interests of residents.”
Pictured inset: From left, Ash Rahman, Tony Blair, head football coach at Fitzrovia Youth in Action, and Kieran Bryant, a youth and sports development co-ordinator at Origin housing group