Clarity required on sporting ambitions

I write with reference to Mark Street’s letter about Ashford Hockey Club (“So much for local democracy”, KE, January 12).

I agree with much of his sentiment having also opposed the original development on the Ashford Hockey Club site. I also agree that the hockey club is a “valued local asset”.

However I do feel there is still time for much more openness between Kennington residents, the local authority and the various sporting clubs involved. There was much that was slightly underhand about the previous application. This is a time where all should be discussing the future of our “local asset”.

I appreciate that there is a minority who are not in favour of the sound of sport being played locally.

I do believe (and hope) those against the noise of people enjoying sport is a minority and the majority of residents would support the development of a sustained centre of sporting excellence: hockey, junior football and more.

Since the failed application there has been little external evidence of a long-term plan to maintain the growth and presence of the hockey club in Kennington. Looking forward, however, could the club publish its future ambition and how it would secure both its longer-term presence (and Kennington Juniors Football Club) with this plan and that this is the limit of the club’s development plans ... gaining more local support.

I still have reservations with this development but would like to see the site remain and flourish. When a nearby city hockey club can provide members of an Olympic Gold medal winning team you would think we could find a way forward.

Finally there is the significant question of where Ashford Town Cricket Club ambitions lie as they own a significant portion of the hockey club site. I would like to think that the town’s cricket club would be supportive of maintaining local sporting heritage on this site. It would help openness if the cricket club could be clear on their long term ambitions on the site and whether they, hopefully, support the future development of sporting excellence and not housing. Lee Robinson Tritton Fields, Kennington