Residents have labelled plans to put football pitches and a clubhouse on large parts of Blenheim Park a “farce”.

Residents in Blenheim Chase claim they have been kept in the dark by Southend Council, which is the landowner for the park, with Catholic United proposing the idea to the authority.

It was passed through the authority’s cabinet last month, but was referred back by disgruntled councillors to be debated again.

The football club, which plays at Wellstead Gardens, in Westcliff, has proposed moving to the Leigh park, and building four pitches and a £430,000 pavilion, consisting of a clubhouse, changing rooms, function room, and a bar.

And the possibility of parties taking place in the clubhouse, as well as parking woes and the loss of cherished parkland has irked residents.

Mike Hansford, 72, who has lived in Blenheim Chase since 1953, said: “The whole thing stinks. It’s a farce.

“The first thing we heard about it was when we read the Echo, and I subsequently learned that planners have been working on it for a year. It’s in essence a private club wanting to take away a large slice of our public land. I’ve enjoyed that park since I was nine and this shows a complete contempt for residents.”

Since it was referred back to cabinet, the portfolio holder for enterprise, Lib Dem Graham Longley has put out letters for a public consultation, but residents say this is too late and want a public meeting.

The club say other football teams will be able to use the pitches, and they will raise the money themselves.

The council is making a decision as the landowner of the park.

But residents also claim that parking situation in Blenheim Chase is already bad and this will exacerbate that, while concerns have been raised about noise coming from the pavilion during functions.

There was a pavilion in the park until 2005.

Sarah Pillsford, 38, of Blenheim Chase, added: “I’ve lived here for 20 years and I experienced a lot of vandalism with the pavilion there, so I breathed a sigh of relief when it was knocked down. Parking is a nightmare already and this will add more cars, as well as noise from the functions held there.

“The club and the councillors making the decision don’t live here 24 hours a day like us, and they won’t see the repercussions of their decision.

Echo: james courtenay.JPG

James Courtenay

 

Councillors sent application packing

TWO councillors sent the park plans back to cabinet when they were discussed at a meeting.

Both Labour’s Julian Ware Lane, and Tory James Courtenay spoke out against the plans, for differing reasons, at Place Scrutiny Committee on Monday.

The next day, Lib Dem Graham Longley sent out a consultation to residents, which runs until August 24.

Mr Courtenay, who represents Blenheim, said: “Residents could be assuming the worst on this, and I’d like to say I’ve seen the plans to tell them not the panic, but unfortunately I’m not in a position to do so because there has been no consultation with councillors.

“It’s not a case of ‘here’s the proposal, what do you think?’ It’s ‘here’s a proposal and we will get it through council.’ “That’s why I’m calling for a public meeting on it before it goes back to cabinet in September.”

And Mr Ware-Lane, who represents Milton, added: “I don’t understand why we would give a massive chunk of public land to a football club.

“I don’t understand it on any level and that’s why I’m utterly opposed to it.”

Mr Longley, who represents Blenheim, said that he would wait to hear back from the consultation before assessing whether a public meeting is needed.

He added: “We keep saying we are prepared to listen if residents and local councillors say they don’t want it, and take appropriate action.

“This is a proposal by the club and residents will have the opportunity to comment on the planning application by the football team.”