Fishponds Playing Fields reopens for local residents to exercise

Residents living near Fishponds Playing Fields in Tooting will be able to use it for exercise while lockdown continues, councillors have decided.

With the lockdown being extended and most children not expected to return to school until March 8 at the earliest, councillors have decided to open up the playing fields on a daily basis so that children and families living nearby can use it for their daily exercise.

Normally the playing fields, which are bordered by Fishponds Road, Hebdon Road and Broadwater Road are only accessible when sports clubs have made a pitch booking.

A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "As one of a small number of designated sports pitch sites in the borough used by schools and local clubs for organised team sports, the site is not suitable for general leisure use.

"However, with lockdown continuing and people needing to access extra space for daily exercise purposes the playing fields will open between 8am and 4pm from tomorrow (Saturday)."

Local group Forever Fishponds who have campaigned for the reopening has called the decision 'great news'.

Some areas of the playing fields will remain fenced off to protect the ground.

Parks and open spaces spokesman Steffi Sutters said: "The playing fields are being opened because we are keen to give people space to exercise in this part of Tooting.

"The common is just a little too far away to walk, especially if you have young children, and we certainly don't want people driving to Tooting Common to exercise.

"However, we do need people to respect the playing fields. In the past we have had people leaving litter including broken glass on the sport pitches which is incredibly dangerous and totally unacceptable.

"There have also been occasions when the fields have been open and people have broken into the changing rooms. If such acts occur again then we will be forced to reconsider this decision."

Outside of the new opening hours, the gates to the playing fields will remain locked to prevent them being affected by anti-social behaviour, which has been reported in the past by residents whose homes back onto the playing fields.

Anyone witnessing anti-social behaviour at the playing fields is urged to contact the Wandsworth Parks Police service.

Wandsworth Council says as soon as lockdown is over the playing fields will revert to their normal rules of opening.