Campaigners and council clash  over new Spurs training ground - video Dailymotion

Evening Standard

Campaigners and council clash  over new Spurs training ground

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00:00This green space behind me is White Webs Park in Enfield in North London.

00:04It has been the topic of controversy locally as Tottenham Hotspur will take part of this park

00:09and turn it into a training facility for its women's football team.

00:12I'm not very happy at all.

00:14I see the decision as no benefits the residents of Enfield.

00:17You know if it's housing I kind of understand that houses do need to be built but this

00:21isn't necessity.

00:22And part of the argument that Spurs are making is that they want to invest in women's football

00:25and this space would be a great way to do it.

00:28I think women's football is a really great thing and I'm excited to see it develop and

00:31everything but I do feel strongly that this is the wrong place.

00:34Council documents show that the site will restore around 23 hectares of historic parkland.

00:39The training complex will also include a section that will preserve a woodland area

00:43and 2,000 trees will be planted at the site.

00:45Spurs' training ground is just outside this park so you can understand why they'd feel

00:49it was a natural extension to move into this green space.

00:52But opponents of this decision have argued that this isn't the right space to do it.

00:56They've argued that there's a more appropriate space for Spurs to take on though it is over

01:00the road and more expensive.

01:02Local resident Sean Wilkinson took me around the park to explain some of his concerns.

01:07This is the area where they're going to be putting the astroturf.

01:10There's going to be one astroturf pitch somewhere in this area here.

01:14There'll also be lighting for these pitches and we've noticed that the lights for the

01:22men's ground can be seen about two kilometres away up in the conservation area by Clay Hill.

01:28So the lights here are probably the same.

01:30We'll add light pollution to the sky which might interfere with the bats and the birds.

01:36This is the area where they're going to be building the pitches

01:39and while they say they're making efforts to preserve a lot of the trees,

01:46some rather beautiful trees will be coming down including that chestnut which is just over there.

01:51I walked around the park to talk to members of the community,

01:53find out more about what's going on here and how people feel.

01:56I am really disgusted that Enfield Council could think that they can take this park away

02:03from the public who enjoy it so much and give it to a multi-million pound football club.

02:09Bit of a shame because it's been here an awful long time and we moved in about six months ago

02:14and it seems we're going to lose quite a big patch of land already which is a bit of a shame.

02:19Benefit is entirely with Tottenham Hotspur, again very very cheaply done.

02:26If they wanted the land the other side of the road it would have cost them five times the amount.

02:30I mean this is part of Enfield's, London Borough of Enfield,

02:34one of the greenest boroughs considered around the London area

02:39and I think the councillors should let us keep it for the public and for dog walking.

02:44It's just upsetting, there's other bits of land, there's farmers that want to sell.

02:47It's just very disappointing.

02:49A Spurs spokesperson has told the Standard

02:51our proposals will secure its future with the green use and ensure it remains an open

02:55and inclusive place for local people to enjoy.

02:58We shall improve local access to nature and habitats,

03:00provide new facilities for visitors, community groups and sports clubs

03:04and put Enfield on the map as a champion of the women's and girls' game with best-in-class academy.

03:09Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil said

03:11Tottenham Hotspur FC have committed to planting 2,000 trees,

03:14improving biodiversity, repairing footpaths and improving public access within the park.

03:19We believe this project will bring exciting opportunities to Enfield

03:22including job opportunities, apprenticeships and enhanced sports facilities.

Campaigners and council clash over new Spurs training ground

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