Vandalism ‘no reason’ to sell off playing fields

ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour is no excuse to sell off a playing field for housing, a leading Birmingham city councillor has claimed.

The comments came after plans to build houses on the councilowned Burford Road playing fields in Kingstanding were revealed.

Council bosses want to develop part of the site while leaving the remaining part as public open space.

The fields regularly host local football club games and are also popular with dog walkers and local children. But there is also a history of vandalism to changing rooms and fences.

Local councillor Barbara Dring, who chairs the city’s licensing committee, has now called on her Labour colleagues to think again.

Cllr Dring (Lab, Oscott) said that the area already has below average amount of green open space. “For this reason Burford Road is so valuable to us. It is widely used by the community of all ages. The anti-social behaviour is given as part of the reason, but this is incorrect as this has been brought down to a minimum – it should not be an excuse for development.”

She said they had been looking at having the fields protected with Village Green status and this should be allowed to happen.

Cllr Keith Linnecor (Lab, Oscott) said that while there was demand for housing in Birmingham the plans were ‘saddening’ and added: “Burford Road should not be built on if possible.

“Constant reports of anti-social behaviour on the field and the abuse off the field by some who are not paying the costs of rent for sporting activities have not helped.”

The proposals are due to before the council’s cabinet at meeting on April 18. go its