Victory Against Goals Soccer Centre in South London!
The campaign to stop an 8-acre private soccer centre being built in Heaton Park is in its final stages ahead of a decision by Manchester Council on December 17th. Campaigners to save the park have been encouraged by a wave of rejections for similar schemes in parks in London.
Campaigners in Morden Park found out this week that their campaign to stop their park being turned into a commercial soccer centre had been a success. Find our more from their website here.
Regents Park, as well as parks in Morden and Wandsworth in the capital, have all been threatened with “Goals” soccer centres similar to the one proposed for Heaton park. In each case the applications have been rejected after public pressure.
Campaigners in Morden produced this stunning video to support their cause:
Cllr Tim Pickstone, Local Councillor for Holyrood ward and a leader of the campaign to protect the park said “I am pleased that communities in London have come together to save parkland, and that local Councils have listened to what people want. I appeal to Manchester City Council to do the same.
“We have always said that this is a good facility, but in completely the wrong place. We are all for better sports facilities, but this is an 8 acre concrete site with a big car park, charging people a lot of money and open until 11pm. This isn’t something that should be built on green land inside a quiet public park.”
Manchester Council are expected to hear this application on 17 December 2009, but in the meantime keep up the pressure - here’s how.
p j platts says:
December 11th, 2009 at 11:47 am
The proposed intense activity, and the extent of parking and turning spaces, are incompatible with the preservation of an historic park’s character and appearance. If sited elsewhere, the development could assist in reviving and increasing the usefulness of damaged landscape in the Irwell valley or elsewhere.
Richard Flash says:
February 28th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Goals will not destroy your park, they will only enhance it providing kids & adults with a facility that is affordable & great for keeping teenagers off the streets. Space that is currently unused or used for mischief can now be utilised for the benefit of the community. Take it from me an ex red apprentice now working for Goals.