Finsbury Residents Show Council the Value of Local Football Pitches with Free Session for Kids

PILC supports community in their objections against Council’s plans to build tower blocks on public football pitches.

The local community in Finsbury are raising awareness of Islington Borough Council’s plans to demolish the leisure centre and football pitches to make way for multi-storey housing and much smaller community football pitches. There was a huge turnout for the football session, followed by a peaceful protest led by the local children who had turned out in support of saving the pitches.  

The background 

The council has proposed plans to demolish the leisure centre and football pitches to build housing and a new leisure centre in its place.

Islington Borough Council owns the land and has said it plans to build pitches on the roof of the new leisure centre. However, these pitches would be considerably smaller. The existing pitches are currently used by local residents, multiple schools and approximately 200 children who play for the City of London Football Club. The Club has warned that the plans could see it downsize or even fold, as they are “not viable” for the community.

The council is in the process of determining the planning application. PILC is supporting the local community with their objections to the proposed plans.

More than just football 

If the council’s proposed plans go ahead, it will spell the loss of crucial sports facilities and open space for young people in the borough. It will set a precedent for developing and selling public facilities like parks and playing pitches, even where they are scarce.  

The residents are fundraising to be able to fight the council’s plans. You can find out more information and help them reach their target here.  

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 the public can continue to access open spaces.  

If a public space near you in threatened, message harriet.child@pilc.org.uk