My red card for pay-to-play football pitches at our park

Published: 16 July, 2010

• AS a local resident and past chairman of the Friends of Finsbury Park, I would like to register my strong objections to the scheme to site commercial five-a-side football pitches, with a building and car park, at Finsbury Park.

This is another attempt by Haringey Council to use the park to create revenue.

Though the consultation brochure does not make this clear, it is going to be expensive to use these pitches.

This is not a wealthy area and park facilities such as pitches should not be there to make a profit for commercial operations.

The picture on the brochure for the scheme shows a large car park, with space for perhaps 50 or more cars.

Why should any part of the park be given over to private parking? There is no shortage of public transport in the area.

This aspect of the scheme will not do anything for Haringey’s green credentials.

Is there not an obligation to preserve metropolitan open space?

The brochure goes on to say that “a small pavilion” will be built.

Granted the facilities then mentioned (changing/toilet facilities, reception, office, meeting room and social bar area), it is hardly going to be small.

A substantial building is pictured on the brochure.

From the picture on the brochure it is also clear that night use and floodlighting are planned.

Apart from security concerns, is this what a park is for?

Finally, I understand that by social bar is meant licensed premises.

Why should alcohol be sold in the park? There is no shortage of pubs in the area and Haringey, with grant aid, has only recently built a new café in the park.

I think Haringey ought to go back to first principles.

A park like ours is a trust created by forward-thinking, socially minded people in the past for the benefit of future generations.

It is not an asset to be exploited by one generation. I hope Haringey will think again.

BRUCE KENT
Venetia Road, N4