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Ken Friar |
Arsenal back down in sports centre row
ARSENAL have backed down a month after the club’s managing director accused Islington councillors of jeopardising a new sports centre by making extra demands on the club.
Last month, the club’s managing director Ken Friar wrote to planning chairman councillor Phil Kelly saying he was “shocked” to discover further conditions had been added to the club’s plans to provide a sports centre in Queensland Road.
He said it was “totally unacceptable” for the east area committee panel to increase the number of free hours public access to the centre from 11 to 37, adding: “Similarly, for the committee to impose requirements on the development that will allow access to all amenity areas without consultation is also unacceptable.”
But in papers to be considered at last night’s (Thursday) planning committee, officers say the club has now agreed that the sports centre be available for a minimum of 52 hours per week with no less than 37 hours of this being free.
The club has also agreed to drop three of four appeals due to be heard before a planning inquiry on Tuesday, but refused to provide 18 coach parking spaces, saying the maximum possible would be 14.
It has also agreed to limited access to amenity areas but only to some residents.
The application was due to be heard by the east area committee at the Town Hall last night (Thursday). Highbury West councillor Theresa Debono said: “Islington Labour has been working together with residents in Highbury for years to get the community benefits that people deserve from the Arsenal development.
“I am particularly happy that, as a result of that campaigning, we now appear to have got an Arsenal sports centre that is open to local children. The campaign hasn’t been easy, but it has been worthwhile, as this is good news for everyone in Highbury.” |
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