Plans to build 10 new five-a-side football pitches in Finsbury Park are to be put out for public consultation.
If approved, the pitches would be set up at the tarmac area close to the Endymion Road entrance.
Apart from the pitches, there would also be floodlighting, a new changing pavilion and parking spaces. It is anticipated that there would be free or subsidised use of the pitches during off-peak hours.
With that odd logic that governs the council website, they do not appear to have put a link to the actual consultation info, but have no fear, I have tracked it down and you can read it here
Consultation appears to be by having 2 'open days' and inviting emailed comments on the proposal.
Do you know where the nearest five a side football pitches are around here? There are loads of Tennis Courts and Basketball Courts around. For the biggest participation sport in the country, it's well under represented for places to play - apart from the poo ridden fields.
I agree about the privately funded part, it should be funded by the council and run as other borough owned gyms and sporting facilities.
More importantly where are all the location and catering lorries going to park when filming comes to town?
I think there's a 5 a side pitch in Chestnuts, but no flood lights and isn't there one at the Greig Academy? Where does Matt's group play on Monday evenings?
As regards the facilities (re: tennis courts & gym equipment) at Ducketts, aren't they still in the proposal stage, and yet to go forward to planning?
Another thing, Finsbury park is closed after dark at present for numerous reasons, how would that be maintained were floodlit piches to be provided?
Haven't seen the one at Chesnuts, thought it was just tennis courts, we seem to have them in abundance?
We play at Greig Academy, where the school supplements its budget by charging (very reasonably) for the use of their floodlit astro-turf pitch. It is a multi use surface and more of a eight a side pitch with large goals rather than the standard five a side hip height goals, and there's only one of them.
I agree with you, I think it's very important to have an open flat space for ad hoc groups to improvise in, much as the current use. Leave it alone, and let the park users do as they will with it. It's rarely empty. You seem to have found a multitude of uses for it - well done.
From the Haringey Independent: "Councillor Dhiren Basu, Haringey Council cabinet member for leisure, culture and lifelong learning, said: "No decisions have been taken and we are keen to hear the views of interested parties, including local residents."
Colin Bannon commented on your note "Five-a-side plans for Finsbury Park":
"I think anything to improve this facility is a good thing, but it's presently very popular with basketball and volleyball players. I wonder will these sports be catered for here or elsewhere in the park? "
Permalink Reply by matt on January 12, 2010 at 23:36
The borough of Haringey is severely lacking facilities for the most popular sport in the country of which 5-a-side plays a big part. New facilities would be most welcome and is needed for the local youth.
The most popular thing to do for teenage boys in London is Xbox or join a gang and carry a knife. Is that a reason to support this or should we direct their energies to more useful activities, like Wii and cricket?
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Cricket is represented considering it's small participation rate in this country: Ally Pally, Highgate, Crouch End, Clapton Pond etc. Getting kids into something like five a side is cheap and massively popular amongst all nationalities and social and economic backgrounds. People play football wherever and with whatever, just look around the world, but playing on a good surface, with markings and nets not to mention shower facilities would go down a treat in this area.
A (state owned) five a side pitch complex, can be multi-use, hockey, circuit training, tennis and even cricket training etc. Just look at most school facilities, they are always multi-use. If all the minor sports (Softball/Baseball, American Football, Skateboarding, Tennis, Basketball, Athletics) can be represented within FP, then surely our national game can to.
Playing football has, on the grass in FP it's problems, primarily dog logs! Also there are no markings, no goals, uneven surfaces etc etc
Permalink Reply by matt on January 13, 2010 at 10:31
Birdy, there's no money for state owned. Besides a commercial operation will re-invest in their facilities over the years. It's in their interests to do so. The council would simply run such a facility down over the years. The council will probably make money from leasing the land to the commercial operation.