Feryal Clark slams Enfield Council for ‘not listening’ to residents over Whitewebbs Park lease to Tottenham Hotspur, reviews James Cracknell
Whitewebbs Park Golf Course and (inset) Feryal Clark MP
An area Labour MP has slammed Enfield Council’s method to Whitewebbs Park – saying she’s “misplaced confidence within the council’s capacity to contain native residents in its plans”.
Enfield North MP Feryal Clark wrote a strongly-worded letter to her constituents immediately (Friday twentieth) outlining her considerations over the best way the Labour-run council was dealing with the proposed leasing of half of the park to Tottenham Hotspur Soccer Membership (THFC), which needs to construct a ladies’s and ladies’ academy on the northern half of the previous golf course inside the park.
The newest controversy surrounding Whitewebbs Park started when a public discover was printed shortly earlier than Christmas, outlining the council’s intention to enter right into a lease with THFC and welcoming the general public to remark. Nonetheless, residents and campaigners against the lease argued that the discover broke a key council promise that it might solely be issued if or when Spurs win planning permission. The council has emphasised that this stays the case because the 25-year lease will solely begin after permission is granted.
Nonetheless, the council’s assurances haven’t quelled native anger, with a protest being staged outdoors Enfield Civic Centre final week.
Feryal says in her letter that she is “dissatisfied” the council was continuing with the lease discover earlier than the complete particulars of the THFC plan emerge. She writes: “When Enfield Council went to tender expressions of curiosity for the golf course, I made clear my view to the council and native residents. While I understood the council’s considerations round monetary pressures, and the want to maximise income from the positioning, I used to be clear that residents’ views should be listened to by means of an in-depth session earlier than any choice was made.
“On the time, I used to be happy to listen to about plans which might defend this current inexperienced house at Whitewebbs, that’s worthwhile to many people in Enfield, and improve public entry, defend the woodlands, and enhance biodiversity.
“The extent of resident engagement on this proposal by the council on the time was poor, which was made very clear to the council by residents and myself. I joined residents in calling on the council to do higher.”
The Labour MP continues: “Each residents and I have been reassured that the proposals would require planning approval and no lease could be entered into except this was obtained, following a rigorous native session.
“This might have been the chance for residents to form and affect the proposals. It’s most disappointing that regardless of reassurances given by the council, this has not been the case.
“I subsequently utterly perceive and share the anger and frustration of residents who really feel like their voices have been ignored.
“The shortage of readability that residents have obtained on all phases of this mission, might have been averted by a extra rigorous and significant engagement and session course of.”
The Enfield North MP provides that the council shouldn’t have launched a session over the Christmas interval and had subsequently “additional failed of their obligations to residents”. She concluded: “Sadly, I’ve misplaced confidence within the council’s capacity to contain native residents and person teams, in its plans for this public house […] Native communities should be on the coronary heart of selections that have an effect on them.”
In response, a council spokesperson stated: “Enfield Council has categorically not entered right into a lease with Tottenham Hotspur FC – the council’s place has not modified. The council has authorised an ‘settlement for lease’ which makes it completely concrete that no lease may be entered into with THFC till outlined pre-conditions have been met and fulfilled.
“The granting of a lease is subsequently wholly contingent on THFC securing planning permission for the ladies’s soccer academy, in addition to finishing up repairs and renovations to paths, bridleways and fences, and to enhance the café and bathroom amenities. Till then, the council is not going to enter into any lease with THFC.”
Feryal Clark MP’s full message to Enfield North constituents may be learn on her web site:
Go to feryalclark.co.uk/information/an-update-on-whitewebbs