I WOULD be grateful if you would allow me to respond to Coun Williams in her comments regarding costs attributed in the application to develop Sling Lane Playing Fields for a private football club. (Malvern Gazette, March 9).

I can agree that £55,000 is direct from taxpayers and that £55,000 is from developers’ funds (referred to as S106).

The key point is that the sum of £110,000 is together public funds.

The £410,000 additional funding that is apparently available does not make these playing fields the appropriate location for a significant football development which will take precedent over all other use, both formal and informal.

The plan to open two quiet residential roads for access, construct a link road between them, build a 2,000sq ft club house and 48 parking spaces give some idea of the scale of the development.

The council has found Newtown FC to be an unsuitable partner yet it will make taxpayers liable for the whole scheme including project management, public liability, overruns and overspends. No figures are available for what the council has spent thus far.

This unsound and deeply inappropriate development in the heart of Malvern is underpinned with public funds and public asset which if completed will pass into the hands of a private football club on an unpublished lease.

It’s not about football or any other sport, this issue is about provision of recreational facilities which provide an equitable and lasting benefit for the whole community.

I cannot think of a project more at odds with the needs of local people.

That is why we are calling for an inquiry and an immediate halt to the plans to develop these playing fields.


GAVIN O’MAHONEY
Leader, the Heart of Malvern Party