Issue - meetings

To receive and consider proposals for improvements to the cricket clubhouse and grounds.

RECEIVED the proposals to improve facilities at the Alexandra Park cricket clubhouse and grounds as part of a project with Heartlands High School (as laid out in pages 47-56 of the agenda pack) and the tabled site maps, introduced by Sam Davidson (Transformation Project Manager - BSF).  A discussion followed.

NOTED:

·        Eight committee members attended a site visit on 22^nd March 2011.

·        The Head teacher of Heartlands School, Simon Garrill informed the Committees that that the school held regular meetings with the local community in order to consult about issues and to give pupils an understanding of the school’s role in the community, with the conservation area and with the cricket club.

·        The school would use the pitches in consultation with the cricket club.  The facilities would also be available for use by the cricket club’s many existing teams, without the need or cost of travelling to other facilities off site.

·        Planning permission for Phase 2 (construction of a multi-use games area (MUGA)) would be sought in December 2011, which would allow time for thorough consultation and habitat and bat surveys of the area.  The Phase 2 proposals would be considered by the Alexandra Palace Board at a later stage.

·        There were comments that consultation with local residents, particularly those in Campsbourne Estate and Montague Road, should begin now and that future consultation should be conducted outside of the summer holiday period. In response officers explained that consultation could not begin until the design of Phase 2 of the project had been completed but that there would be extensive consultation including conservation groups and a Biodiversity Action Plan. 

·        Committee Members recommended that the reasons for not proposing the MUGA be built on the school site must be made clear in future consultations.

·        Committee members generally supported improved use of the playing fields (Phase 1) but expressed concerns about Phase 2, the MUGA proposals, including:  the potential damage to the local habitats, the floodlighting so close to a conservation area, the potential loss of established trees, replacement of grass with paving, the potential detrimental visual affect of the MUGA.

·        Officers recognised that the proposals for the MUGA extended beyond the curtilage of the cricket club’s current demise and reported that the Board would be required to grant a new lease to the club on the basis of enhanced income.

·        The Alexandra Palace Garden Centre operator had offered to donate a garden bench to the cricket club if the project was completed.

AGREED

i.          That the Committees generally supported Phase 1 of the proposals to improve facilities at the Alexandra Park cricket clubhouse and grounds as part of a project with Heartlands High School.

ii.         That Phase 2 was a concern to the Committees and proper consultation with the local community and the Committees was recommended including extensive plans on the scale and size of the MUGA and full details about the proposed floodlighting.