Access is top issue in Freemantle sports ground consultation
30th January 2007
Alan Whitehead today publishes the results of his residents’ survey on Council proposals to buy the Civil Service Sports Ground. The results show strong support for the Council buying the site as part of the school redevelopment, but there have been growing concerns about access to the sports ground and the surrounding area that have yet to be properly dealt with.
The most frequently expressed concern from respondents was that the sports ground site should remain accessible, in some form, to the whole community. A significant number of residents have also raised concerns about increased congestion around the proposed new campus.
Alan Whitehead is now acting on residents’ concerns by lobbying for two ‘access guarantees,’ one from the City Council and one from the Government. Commenting on what guarantees are needed, Dr Whitehead said:
“The City Council must guarantee that other groups and clubs will be allowed to use the playing fields out of school time, in a similar way that people can currently use the pool at Oaklands and Millbrook’s playing fields.
“One of the factors in this redevelopment that was raised by constituents was the issue of parking and congestion. I hope that the Council will take this into consideration. I have also been lobbying the Government to give Southampton new powers to better regulate bus services which will help to encourage increased travel by public transport and aid peaktime congestion. I have already held meetings with Ministers about this and am confident the proposals will be part of the new Transport Bill which will be published later this year.”
He added:
“The proposal to buy the sports ground is a fantastic opportunity- something I and the Labour group have been calling for since 2004. At that time the Conservative Councillors voted against the purchase. I’m delighted they have changed their policy and are supporting our campaign to preserve a vital green space in Freemantle.”
More information
- Alan Whitehead’s survey on the future of the Civil Service sports ground was sent to approximately 300 residents in Freemantle in December 2006. With a response rate of 35%, the overall result of the survey was:
Support for the proposal to buy the former Civil Service sports ground as playing fields for a new school development at the current St Mark’s site:
Support: 81% Do not support: 9% Not sure: 10%
- Residents were also asked to list one or more concerns (if any) about the site
1: Making sure the sports ground remains accessible for the whole community (72)
2: Too much of the sports ground being built over (46)
3: Traffic & congestion (22)
4: Potential increase in anti-social behaviour from the new school (17)
NB: ‘traffic and congestion’ was raised by a number of constituents despite it not being included in the original survey - History of the campaign to save the Civil Service sports ground:
- February 2004: Southampton City Council votes to set aside money to set aside money in their budget for the purchase of the Civil Service sports ground. Labour councillors vote for the motion; Conservatives vote against
- July 2005: “Don’t back down,” Whitehead tells campaigners as the sports ground is sold to developer Bovis Homes. Whitehead also urges the council not to ‘roll over’ and allow the site to be developed on
- Summer 2006: Southampton City Council’s first Learning Futures proposals are ‘called in’ by Labour councillor and chair of the Children’s and Learning Services scrutiny committee, Matt Stevens. The original schools consultation was condemned from all sides for a lack of consultation and a failure to provide a strong vision for the direction of joined-up education services in the city.
- Autumn 2006: the revised Learning Futures proposals are published, this time including a proposal to buy the former Civil Service sports ground for use as playing fields for a joint Regents Park – St Mark’s campus. Money is again allocated by the city council to purchase the sports ground; this time the Conservatives vote with Labour for the purchase.
