Clive explains: “This is a completely unacceptable proposal which, if allowed, will have severe long-term repercussions for the future of sports fields in this part of London.  Such sites are vital to building happy and healthy communities.”

“The Council has an excellent record in consistently refusing permission to developers to build on this site and I can see no change in these plans which would justify any change in this opposition.”

Clive is scathing about the developers plans to renovate Bardhill sports field in exchange for being allowed to build on the GAA site.  “Is not acceptable for the developers to effectively hold the Bardhill site as a ransom, cynically offering to bring the site into use only if they are given permission to develop the GAA site.  Both Bardhill and the GAA site are important local amenities and both should be preserved and returned to use as sports fields as soon as possible.”

To see a copy of Clive’s later letter to the Council then please click here.

A former application which was turned down by the Council was the subject of a public inquiry in 2007 by the Planning Inspector.

Although the Inspector found in favour of the developers the appeal was eventually turned down by the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Communities and Local Government, Meg Munn MP.

Clive gave gave oral evidence to the Inquiry stressing that allowing the site to be built on would set a terrible precedent for the remaining sports grounds in the local area which play such an important role in the Borough.