Opinion: 'Widespread resistance' causes Tooting Triangle plans to go to public inquiry

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As we reported previously, a public inquiry will be held over the future of the Tooting Triangle planning application. The following article was submitted by Caroline Hartnell, who delves deeper into the issue.

A public inquiry will be held over plans to enclose part of Tooting Common in order to build a commercial football facility.

Only five per cent of planning applications that go to the Planning Inspectorate go to public inquiry, so this is a clear reflection of the widespread resistance from the local community to Wandsworth Council's proposals for the site: 10,000 signatures collected on two petitions; 1,000 initial objections; and 120 objections through the Planning Inspectorate.

The contractor involved is TFC Leisure, and the proposal involves enclosing a 38,500 square foot area of Tooting Common in order to build a pay-to-play floodlit football facility behind an 80 yard long, 15-foot high mesh fence.

The proposed development also includes some extension of the existing Triangle buildings to provide more space for the Balham Amateur Boxing Club, a refreshment area and toilets.

Many local residents have objected to the proposed development because it involves the enclosure and privatisation of public land and a consequent decrease in access to green spaces. This is an area of the common that is used free of charge by all sections of the community.

This year the pandemic has highlighted even more how important green open spaces are to people living in urban areas. The common has been packed with people every day – families with children, people playing games, running, walking, exercising, sitting in groups, having picnics, etc (depending on Covid regulations at the time).

For much of the year this is the only dry space on this part of the common. This is particularly true in the winter months when this area of the common is usually waterlogged, probably from October through to March or April. The last few weeks have again seen severe flooding, and this is increasingly likely to occur, given increases in rainfall and flooding due to climate change.

The developers' website misleadingly presents the Tooting Triangle sports pitch as 'a perfect example of a run-down, underutilised and neglected facility which is in need of much care, attention and investment' and they back up this description with a series of photos of a completely empty sports pitch. The attached photos present the true story.

Local resident Mike Squires agrees that the pitches need some work, however, this current plan has the potential to 'sign away the right of access' for future generations.

He said: "I don't deny that the sports pitch is run down and neglected, and it could do with some renovation.

"But not at the expense of enclosing precious common land and denying local people access to it.

"The common is a public resource that must be managed in the interest of its users.

"The granting of a 25-year lease to a private company will sign away the rights of access for future generations, with the first possible review date being 1 October 2038."

Many other objections have been made on the grounds of ecological impact, including the impact on wildlife (especially bats) and the potential for loss or damage to mature trees in the location.

Others have raised the impact on residents while the development works take place, and in relation to light pollution and insufficient consideration of the parking impact as people use the new facilities. Lack of meaningful consultation at planning stage and poor planning for proposed interior spaces have also been raised.

Dates are yet to be announced but the inquiry is likely to be in September or October. Anyone who wants to get involved in the campaign, please email [email protected].

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