For many
years the Liberal Democrats have been supportive of initiatives to improve
access to youth club services for our residents in Chiswick and Acton.
The
Southfield Ward Forum, which the Liberal Democrats chair, has funded W4 Youth
on two occasions to help provide a range of activities for teenagers in the
area such as football and table tennis.
After many
years of hearing about possible plans for a youth club on Southfield Rec, by
surprise it appeared on the agenda of a Council meeting this week with no up-front
briefing for Southfield ward Councillors to ask questions. This approach is
very regrettable as residents and Councillors will have lots of questions and it
would make sense to ensure they are dealt with in an organised fashion.
There are implications
on requiring planning permission (the Council told ward Councillors that the
only buildings that can be sited on Southfield Rec would be those that relate
to maintaining the grounds such as for tool storage) so it appears the Council
is by passing its own rules when it wants to without taking into account the views
of residents who might be affected such as those living in the South Western section
on Wilkinson Way or Southfield Road.
The
Council plan to grant a 99-year lease to W4 Youth for the construction of a community
sports hub including a car park. The suggested uses include: Youth clubs
(street dance club, drama club), sports facilities (T20 cricket club, football
pitches), a café and administrative offices for the charity.
It also
appears that the lease will allow the football pitches and tennis courts to be hired
out. We have asked whether the Council has consulted the current users of the
football pitches and the tennis courts but so far not had a response.
I am in
favour of improving the facilities for local people but these types of
initiatives should be done by involving residents as well as local Councillors
so that a better outcome can be achieved.
As it stands currently there are lots
of questions and it appears that the Council should have asked to attend the Southfield
Ward Forum meeting that was held in the last two weeks.
This would have been an
opportunity to put forward proposals, listen to concerns and answer questions
so that any proposals will be better for all.
For the
Council to shun the local residents' association, residents and ward
Councillors is deplorable.
The
proposals can be seen here on the Council’s website (report 14).
