Peace campaigner Bruce Kent declares war on private five-a-side pitches in Finsbury Park

Published: 16 July, 2010

PEACE campaigner Bruce Kent is opposing plans for five-a-side football pitches, with a private pavilion and bar, at 115-acre Finsbury Park.

Mr Kent, former chairman of CND, is calling on users of the park in Islington to say “no” to the commercially-run pitches.

The plan, by neighbouring Labour-run Haringey Council, has sparked a row over the fact that neither Islington nor Hackney councils – which have part of the park in their boroughs – have any say about what happens in it.

Mr Kent, a former chairman of the Friends of the Park, said the scheme was simply another way of earning money. 

“But where will it all end?” he added. “Our parks are meant to be protected and sacrosanct. They were bequeathed to us by socially minded Victorians as free places for recreation for all. 

“The pavilion will include changing/toilet facilities, reception, office, meeting room and social bar area.  If you are going to agree to commercial five-a-side pitches and a pavilion one day, what happens next? 

A shopping centre?”

A brochure for the scheme shows a large car park, with space for about 50 or more cars. Mr Kent said: “Why should any 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?”