Hundreds campaign against summer takeover of Leamington park

[dutchman]

Hundreds of people have got behind a fast-growing campaign to prevent a Leamington park from being cut off to the public during the summer for three years running.



The Friends of Victoria Park, which formed in reaction to a planning application to transform Victoria Park into a temporary home for players during National Bowls Championships from 2014 onwards, has already gathered almost 500 signatures on their petition since it went live on Thursday.

The group, whose members have been in contact with Warwick District Council about the issue over the past few months, is planning what they call “activities” to raise awareness of the issue at this year’s women’s championships, which start on July 27.

The council has granted planning permision for participants to park and camp on the park for the duration of both women’s and men’s tournaments for 36 days from late July until September for three years.

Speaking at the park on Monday, David Adams of the group, who lives in Archery Road next to the park, said: “We are not objecting to the bowls championships. We all welcome that. But the park is used by people from all over Leamington during the summer.”

Mr Adams said members of the group had measured the distance between the park’s bowling green and the far edge of the park and the distance between the green and St Peter’s car park off Augusta Place - and they say that the car park is slightly closer, meaning that participants would have less far to walk if they parked there.

He said: “We are hoping that the council might consider that, or Warwickshire College car park, as an alternative option.”

Mother of two-year-old twins Sian Langdell said she relies on the park for an outdoor space for her family as her home in Clarendon Square has a very small garden. She said: “I am absolutely astounded we are even having this conversation. When my friend told me about it, I thought she must be wrong.

“There is no other big space like this in Leamington where we can come with friends who have children of different ages with different needs.”

Dog-owner Sue Hillman added: “Since the council introduced the by-law which prevents us from letting dogs off leads in Jephson Gardens and other parks, I cannot go anywhere else to exercise my dog. I don’t have a car.

“We appreciate that it brings in revenue for the town, but we are paying our taxes and feel we are entitled to use the public space.”

The council is holding a drop-in session about the issue at the Bowls Pavilion next Thursday (July 11) from 1pm to 7pm.

To contact the Friends group, visit http://www.friendsofvictoriapark.co.uk