Fears Kentish Town FC could be planning stadiumon Chase Lodge in Mill Hill
12:20pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in Where I Live
Councillor John Hart at the ground in Page Street
A NEW football stadium could be developed on land recently bought by a Camden community group in the heart of Mill Hill.
Plans have emerged revealing Kentish Town Football Club want to develop a stand on the Chase Lodge Playing Fields as a new permanent home for the club.
The semi-professional Spartan South Midlands Premier Division outfit currently play at nearby Copthall Stadium due to a lack of pitches in Camden itself.
In December the 16-acre site in Page Street was sold to the Camden Community Football and Sports Association (CCSFA) bought the site from the council for £700,000.
Councillor John Hart, a Conservative representative of the area, said he would strongly oppose any development plans at the site.
He said: “This is green belt land and any attempts to put a football ground here would inevitably lead to it being eaten up by tarmac and concrete. A stand would be disastrous on this site.
“There were a lot of questions being asked about how a community group could get their hands on £700,000 in the current climate, but if there is a commercial interest behind it that would explain it.
“Residents are already unhappy with the amount of parking in Page Street on weekends for people going to play sport, so this would make things worse still.”
After the sale of the ground in December a statement appeared on the club website saying they had “secured a home which they can call their own”.
Chairman Catherine Dye told the club's website: “There will be many more long and hard days ahead but when we finally lay that first brick on Chase Lodge, then the dream will be finally realised.”
Mike Connolly, who owns a cottage in the grounds, said he will fight “tooth and nail” against any new stadium.
He added: “What we do not want is hundreds of chanting football fans on Saturday and Sundays.
“They are already planning a large intensification of use with up to 600 children coming to play there at weekends, so this would make things even worse for residents.”
John Turtle, the chairman of the Mill Hill Preservation Society said they would also oppose developments there.
He added: “This is a green belt site and we would oppose any attempts to expand the built environment there, it should be kept open and putting a stadium or stand there is not keeping it open.
“If they build a stadium it will have to pay its way and that means corporate hospitality and things like that.”
Diane Culigan, the chairman of the CCSFA, would not be drawn on any future plans for the site.
She told the Times Series: “We plan to improve the site and make it much better than it is now.
“What we need to concentrate on in the short term is things like replace the nets and maintain the fences as well as clearing up the litter and making sure the grass is cut.
“Lots of straightforward things that will not be detrimental to the people around.”
Comments(21)
MichaelH
says...
1:21pm Thu 18 Mar 10
If Green Belt land is so sacrosanct, how did Copthall Stadium get built back in the 1960s?
Why have Bristol City FC just been given permission to build a 30k stadium on Green Belt land? http://bit.ly/cQhNk1
Why is a prominent Barnet Tory allowed to build a kids' farm on Green Belt land? http://bit.ly/dhT1vz
Why was there such little fuss made when a floodlit golf range was opened next to Copthall Stadium?
Why all the the fuss? There's already tarmac as far as the eye can see behind Cllr Hart in that photo...
Mr Reasonable
says...
1:32pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Antoinette
says...
3:47pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Grumblepop
says...
4:28pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Daws Lane is relatively untouched, but give it time, before the ex TS Barossa building is sold off by your Conservative colleagues. Part of Copthall is likely to dissappear. I say the following with a very very heavy heart, Judging by your photo and the handle-bars, many will have been extremely lucky not to have been under your command.
Mr Helpfull
says...
5:26pm Thu 18 Mar 10
So please let not knock it till we see whats a foot, and I think we will be pleasently surprised. First impressions can be a dangerous thing.
Don't Call Me Dave
says...
8:38pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Some development is permitted on green belt land, and sports stadia are included in the list. This may seem strange given the amount of tarmac and concrete used in the construction process, but clearly the rules were drawn up in such a way so as to allow plenty of wriggle room!
Mr Public
says...
9:44pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Thank you Mr Hart i was unaware of the stadia issue. Also who is this Diane Calligan? Can she not speak up for herself and disclose the plans she has for the site? She is meant to head this body so why doesnt she just say what on earth she plans to do with it. Can the executive officer of whoever this person is please stand up and account for their actions for this site.
Grumblepop
says...
2:51am Fri 19 Mar 10
http://www.times-ser
ies.co.uk/news/topst
ories/5062210.Reside
nts_anxious_over_fut
ure_of_playing_field
s/#
You will discover,that local people also make use of the playing fields. So Once again for you, quote unquote,
" Diane Culligan, the chairman of the charity, said there is no need to worry about the future of the pitches.
She said: “It's a community playing field so we want to improve what's there at the moment with things like girl playing football and children with special needs being able to use it as well.
“Local teams will be able to use the pitches it's just a community organisation has got together to try and run them better.”
Councillor Flick Rea, who is in charge of culture for Camden, said: "We're delighted that the land at Chase Lodge will be run and owned by a Camden community group, dedicated to promoting sport in north London.
Mr Public, Seems like neighbouring Camden had, and now a Camden Charity is, providing sports playing fields for Barnet's children. More than Barnet is providing for their own. Your Councillors have been keeping a secret from you. Mill Hill East Frith Lane is about to be a Massive Development soon. Most of Mill Hill East has already been turned into a concrete jungle. Camden Councillor Rea's contact details for you
Councillor: Flick Rea (Liberal Democrat)
Telephone:020 7431 6753
Email:flick.rea@camd
en.gov.uk
Rog T
says...
10:20am Fri 19 Mar 10
How desperate is he?
Antoinette
says...
11:43am Fri 19 Mar 10
Grumblepop
says...
11:55am Fri 19 Mar 10
Mr Public
says...
7:32pm Fri 19 Mar 10
I don't get it - if they have nothing to hide - disclose all documentation please. What is the problem Gumblepop. Or maybe Gumblepop could get the documentation/propos
al and post it on this blog for us all to read? Can you Gumblepop? Then i might give what you have to say some credibility.
Rog T
says...
8:24pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Why are you so keen to prevent Grumblepop from commenting, just because he hasn't seen something, which may not even exist?
One assumes that if they are going to change the site and build/change anything they'll have to submit the plans for planning permission, at which time we'll all see the detail and we'll all be able to comment. That's the process and if they ever do submit these mythical plans for a 60,000 seat stadium for Kentish Town FC (average crowd 100) then we can all get together to organise the mother of all protests.
Until then I'm afraid to say it all looks rather like Tory scaremongering before the election.
If you've found these mythical plans on the Internet, then post a link so we can all see them, rather than having a pop at Grumblepops quite reasonable comments
Grumblepop
says...
11:24pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Camden Council owned the land a Sports Trust Created presumably for Camden and BARNET's residents. Everybody reading the Camden New Journal (Camden's Local Newspaper)may have read a SUMMARY of the plans
Mr Public, you as a Barnet resident, "searching the internet" could presumably, have asked Camden Councillor Flick Rea and also The Camden Trust's Spokesperson, if you could see the detailed plans SUBMITTED to Barnet Council. HAVE YOU MADE A REQUEST TO CAMDEN COUNCIL or to BARNET's Planning Department as a Barnet resident TO SEE THE PROPOSALS submitted to Camden, Have Barnet Councillors failed to SEE THE PROPOSAL you mention, on your behalf. NO! Why not?
The Hendon Times article above, is in ENGLISH, it DOES NOT say, "Where the plans have emerged."
It is also more than a bit rich for Conservative Councilllor Hart, to remark on the finances of any of Camden Community Group, when his Conservative Party and Council have LOST £27 million of Barnet's taxpayers money. I do not see Councillor Hart and his Conservative Colleagues, dipping into their own pockets to return the negligently lost money to Barnet's residents, instead of axing services you may need someday.
Please, before you comment, never ask anybody to do it for you. Do note which council is treating Barnet's residents with contempt. You need to hold our Barnet Council to account, not Camden Council. English truly is a simpleton's language. I'll stick to blarney and wind.
Mr Public
says...
7:58pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Surely it must be negligent on their part to not share their plans with local residents properly??????????
PS Before you say they did - i fundamentally object - as i nore my neighbours nor their neighbours nor anyone on my road knew anything about it and we live very close!!!!
justitia
says...
11:49am Sun 21 Mar 10
Grumblepop
says...
1:38pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Justitia of Barnet has now given you the clearest explanation of, HOW It REALLY WORKS.
You learned again, you say. English is a simpleton's or is it simple language, I'm sticking to Blarney and Wind.
You state, (1) " I am interested in transparency" (2) "common sense irrespective of a legal obligation to do so" (3) " it must be negligent not to share their plans with local residents (Please don't call Lord Clashfern to explain Negligence)
(4) " i am not interested in party politics." Within the context of the Newspaper Report, " Party Politics" it is, and you should ask Barnet councillors, Why they did not TELL YOU First, amongst many other more important CIVIC issues, such as, Why Barnet's Councillors did not consult you before "negligently" losing your £27 million, rather than the local rag doing so?
Like any other nation, It's about time we put Civics on the school curriculum - not wait until 'A' level and voting age before understanding what is being said and done in a Civic Community. A democratic one, so they tell me.
" If you don't like the sound of that, think carefully when you go to the polling station next time for local and London elections." " Barnet - and London - deserve better - time for a change." Justitia you're spot on.
Thanks Justitia once again.
Rog T
says...
10:28am Mon 22 Mar 10
They already play at Copthall Stadium, next door to Chase Lodge - there will be no extra traffic.
The biggest crowd Kentish Town FC attracted in March was 28 people.
They play at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. The worst times for parking congestion is Saturday and Sunday morning, when the 11 a side pitches are in use.
This club plays in Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. The whole issue has been blown out of all proportion to scare residents.
Grumblepop
says...
2:12pm Mon 22 Mar 10
http://barneteye.blo
gspot.com/
'Power to the People' Mr Public
dellertron
says...
8:23am Tue 23 Mar 10
Why not give that stadium to Kentish Town to redevelop?
Rog T says...
12:58pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Sadly Mr Hart is only interested in opposing overdevelopment in Barnet when it doesn't affect the profits of his rich friends