Fishponds Playing Fields to remain open during Easter holiday

Fishponds Playing Fields in Tooting will be open for residents to use throughout the Easter holidays, the council has confirmed.

The playing fields, which have been open for community use since January, will remain open until the late afternoon of Sunday, April 18.

From that date onwards the playing fields will revert to their original use, which is for organised team sports.

Residents will only be able to access the space when it has been booked for use by a local school or club, but at other times it will remain closed.

A spokesperson for the council said: "As the name implies, Fishponds Playing Fields exists for the use of local schools, colleges and sports clubs for organised team sports like football, rugby and cricket.

"As one of a scarce number of designated sports pitch sites in the borough, it is not compatible with general leisure use."

Residents have been reacting to the news.

One resident wrote on Twitter: "This is a very sensible decision by @wandbc and great news for the large number of local families that have been using it over the last couple of months and would like to continue doing so."

Another said: "Many thanks WBC for listening. This brings such joy and happiness. Let's carry on!"

Wandsworth's director of environment and community services Paul Chadwick said: "Because organised team sports were not permitted under Covid regulations we took the decision to open up these sports pitches for the use of the local community so they had somewhere to exercise during lockdown.

"With the easing of lockdown rules coinciding with the start of the Easter schools' break, we've decided to keep the playing fields open so that local children and families have somewhere to play and exercise while not at school.

"However, once the Easter holiday is over and children return to classrooms the playing fields will revert to their normal use."

Every day up to Sunday, April 18, the site will remain open between 8am and 4pm.

The council says dogs are not permitted and nor are cyclists or picnics.

People should also comply with social distancing rules, and 'it is vital that people do not leave or drop litter'.

Mr Chadwick added: "We do need people to respect the playing fields. In the past, we have had people leaving litter including broken glass on the sports pitches which is totally unacceptable.

"There have also been occasions when the site has been open to the public and the changing rooms have been broken into. If visitors don't respect the playing fields we will be forced to reconsider this decision."

Forever Fishponds, a group that campaigns for the green space to be open to the public, previously sent a letter to Councillor Steffi Stutters urging him to reconsider the closure.

Part of the letter read:

"This area of Tooting is disadvantaged in many ways, not least in its distance from other open space, as the Council recognises. From the copious feedback received, it could not be clearer that local people have clear expectations of local access to a local space.

"These are legitimate expectations. In fairness to Tooting's residents, we trust that the Council will think again and allow public access to the Fields to continue."