Leaders clash over Laurel Park 3G pitch proposals

THE LEADER of Wokingham’s Liberal Democrats has been accused of misleading residents over his support for plans to build a 3G football pitch in Lower Earley – something he denies.

At last week’s council meeting, Wokingham Conservatives leader Cllr John Halsall revealed an email sent by his opposite member, Lib Dem Cllr Clive Jones, on December 8, 2020.

It was sent to a council officer after plans for revamping Cantley Park were revealed.

Cllr Jones wrote: “How are discussions going with them about Laurel Park? It would be great to have something similar there?”

Following the meeting, Cllr Jones hit back.

“This isn’t saying we want something similar (to a 3G pitch), it’s asking to have a conversation about what is being planned,” he said.

“Our Focus leaflets said we would like improved sports facilities. It didn’t say at Laurel Park, it didn’t say a 3G pitch.”

He also expressed concerns about how Cllr Halsall had brought up the email, which was his response to a councillor’s question. Due to the format of council meetings, Cllr Jones was unable to respond.

“This isn’t Prime Minister’s Questions,” he said.

But Cllr Halsall said: “It is quite clear Clive Jones was promoting Laurel Park as the site for a new 3G pitch.

“The officers did a really good job getting interest from the Football Association’s Football Foundation for a 3G pitch in Earley, Cllr Jones was extremely excited about this, which is clear from the correspondence.

“They were actively promoting Laurel Park.”

Cllr Halsall said that their view changed when residents expressed their concern over the proposal.

“Having discovered that it was unpopular, rather than say, ‘ Oh, I’m terribly sorry we were promoting it’, they said it was the council.

“We were not promoting anything, officers were just doing the feasibility study because they believed the leader of Earley Town Council, and Earley borough councillors were promoting it, it had genuine popular appeal. Which it didn’t.

“So they were surprised by this change of heart, not to say U-turn, by the leader of Earley Town Council and the leader of the Opposition.

“What is really galling is the mischief of then trying to put it on somebody else.”

This is something that Cllr Jones denies.

He said that he did have a conversation with the Football Association, and the town council made a decision against the plan after listening to residents.

“We decided we just didn’t want (a 3G pitch) near a nature reserve. It is not an appropriate place. Residents agreed with us.

“Over the last year, they asked us for details of the pitch and asked for a proper consultation over it. None of this ever happened. There were some letters and social media posts, but that’s not a proper consultation.

“We had conversations with officers, asking for details, which didn’t come. To suggest (calls for the pitch) were led by the Liberal Democrats and not Conservatives is really quite worrying.”

Of the dropping of plans for Laurel Park, Cllr Halsall said: “I’m just listening to the residents who very clearly expressed the view that they don’t want a 3G pitch there.

“They don’t want it there because it’s not a huge space. Cantley Park is, Laurel Park is not. It’s a space surrounded by housing.

“I’m quite surprised anybody was supporting it in the first place, I wouldn’t have, and it certainly won’t get my support in future.”