Gran clings on to tree as workmen move in to transform popular park
‘IT’S ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE’
A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE grandma clung on to a doomed tree as work progressed on plans for new sports facilities at a park.
A community pavilion and a 3G football pitch are among £6.4m worth of planned new facilities at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground in Stapleford.
However, many residents are up in arms, saying the plans will deprive them of green space.
Broxtowe Borough Council, which is using Government funding to do the work, said the project would “bring people of all ages together to meet, learn, play and keep fit”.
The facilities, expected to open next year, will be used by Stapleford Town Football Club. The Steven Gerrard Academy will also use them for football training and education.
The community pavilion and a multi-use games area have already been approved, but the additional proposals have created a stir. They include the creation of a 3G pitch with perimeter fencing, standing areas and floodlights.
Some residents in Hickings Lane said the council was taking the field from the public and “giving it to a football club”.
Esther Jelley, a teaching assistant, said: “It’s heavily used by families in the summer who are having picnics and having a kick around. It’s free and it’s a massive green space.
“The park is going to be gone. I work at a local school and work with some of the most deprived kids. They’re taking all the free space for the public away and giving it to a football club.”
She complained the six 15-metre high floodlights would stop residents sleeping.
“We’ve got emergency workers living on this street. They hardly want floodlights across the road,” she said.
Janet Carole, 71, wrapped her arms around a tree being felled earlier this week.
“I threw myself round one of the trees to stop them but they carried on,” she said. “It’s blasphemy that they’ve cut those healthy trees down. It’s absolutely disgusting what they have done. The big one was beautiful. It’s a crime that they’ve taken it down.”
Concerns were also raised about the use of crumb rubber infill – which some studies claimed is carcinogenic – on the 3G pitches. The European Commission is looking to ban the use of the material from sport pitches by 2031, while a university report urged the Scottish government to take similar action.
“Surely that’s a massive waste of taxpayers’ money?” said Barb Lang, 54. “They’re changing the use of a park that’s used by everyone to a place for the football club. The money should go somewhere more worthwhile, like for the homeless. I realise the pavilion needs updating, but I object to the grass being used up, the park being fenced off and stands being put up. We won’t give up fighting.”
A Broxtowe Borough Council spokesperson said: “All residents are invited to comment on this planning application and comments will be considered and assessed against adopted planning policy accordingly.”
The project is one of six regeneration projects funded through the £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund. Chair Ian Jowett said: “We’ve worked together with local people to a find solution for the lack of quality community facilities in our town, and this new state-of-the-art community pavilion gives people what they told us they want and need – a central hub for everyone to use.
“We listened to what people thought about our plans at our dropin event in May and our team has worked hard to enhance the plans to make sure that this landmark £6.4m investment meets the many needs of our community, which we know it will.”