Public Land sold out of Public Hands

The Whitewebbs Park sell off from Enfield Council to billionaire football team Tottenham Hotspurs for £2million passes planning hurdle.

Tottenham Hotspurs’ plans to build a private training ground in a public park have been approved by Enfield Council’s planning committee.  

Tottenham Hotspur has been given the go-ahead by Enfield Council to build a new training ground despite objectors saying the plans are set to destroy a section of Whitewebbs Park in Enfield. Almost 300 objections were sent to Enfield Council, including by the Woodland Trust, with many noting the loss of green space and environmental impact. Many residents have also stated the park is an important part of their access to open space that helps them to manage their mental health.  

While the council have claimed the development would ‘improve the surrounding parkland landscape’, campaign group Friends of Whitewebbs Park have spoken of the damage it would have on the area and that such changes would be irreversible. The development would block views across the Park, limit access to public spaces and, campaigners say, will not preserve ancient parkland and wildlife.

For over 90 years residents have enjoyed the park and now the Council has agreed to grant a 25-year lease to the billionaire football giant for just £2million. The Court of Appeal refused permission to appeal in a judicial review challenge to the disposal brought by a local resident, after it was dismissed by the High Court.  

In the 90 years that Whitewebbs Park has been in public ownership, it has become home to badgers, newts, 80 species of bird, 29 species of butterfly and at least nine bats. Spurs fans are among those in disagreement with the football team’s decision, one stating,

‘This beautiful, biodiverse area is going to get half-consumed by plastic pitches and fences. They will tidy it up and it will look like any park, and it won’t have that raw, natural feel. It’s gone and the benefits in the long term accrue to this mega-corporation with very little benefit accruing to the people of the borough.

The application will be referred to the Greater London Authority and Secretary for Communities and Local Government. We will update on the developments, exposing the lack of protection in law for public parks.

The Standard interview the local community about their reactions to the plans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR5mWMLO80o

When public space near you is threatened, it can be hard to know how to fight back. There’s no widely available legal advice in this area. It can feel like the local authority holds all the cards and your community has no say. 

PILC aims to bring greater accountability and transparency to local authority decision-making around the disposal of public open spaces. By shining a light on their processes, we aim to make sure that open spaces are not unlawfully and irreversibly sold. 

In the news

‘Dark day for parks’: Plans to build Spurs academy on London green space approved | London | The Guardian

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7zkelkpmdo

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tottenham-hotspur-academy-enfield-whitewebbs-park-b1210644.html