Ruislip Residents' Association

Proposal for an all-weather hockey pitch on Kings College Fields

The Pinn Meadows are greatly valued by local people. Ruislip Residents' Association is therefore concerned that the Eastcote Hockey Club hopes to put a hard-surface hockey pitch - surrounded by a high fence with nearly 50ft high lighting - onto Kings College Fields

At its May meeting our Executive Committee agreed to object to any further encroachment onto those fields and to inform Hillingdon Borough Council accordingly. Here is the body of the letter sent to Councillor Ray Puddifoot, Leader of Hillingdon Borough Council:

Dear Councillor Puddifoot,

Re: Eastcote Hockey Club’s lease of part of King College Fields

Eastcote Hockey Club (EHC) has currently withdrawn its planning application to develop an all weather hockey pitch on Kings College Fields, Ruislip, but it is expected to submit a similar application in the near future. That possibility was considered by Ruislip Residents’ Executive Committee at its May meeting when it was unanimously agreed that we are against any further encroachment on Kings College Fields.

All the Pinn Meadows are greatly valued by the local community, both as a public open space and as a contribution towards the very pleasant environment in Ruislip. EHC’s existing all weather pitch already dominates one of the Kings College Fields and effectively discourages public access. Our members are concerned that the EHC’s hope of developing a second all weather pitch would exclude the public from a significant part of another field, encroach on the Celandine Way, have a detrimental effect on the local environment and spoil some of the best landscape views in Ruislip.

We are advised that its current all-weather facility is not fully utilised by EHC for hockey matches and much of the time is let out to other organisations. We are therefore concerned about EHC’s motives for promoting this project.

In addition we are concerned by unconfirmed reports that EHC has broken the terms of its Council lease by subletting, on allegedly exploitative terms, part of its holding of land in Kings College fields. Irregularities may have arisen without intent, but we believe that the Council should fully investigate the allegations and, if illegal agreements have been made, that appropriate action should be taken.

It has also been reported to us that the Council proposes to allocate to EHC a significant proportion of the 2011-12 Sport and Cultural matched funds budget for its proposed new all weather hockey pitch. Other worthy organisations in the Borough would, of course, regard that as highly controversial if that decision were taken at their expense.

The EHC proposals risk changing forever the character of that part of the Kings College Fields. We therefore ask the Council to reassure our members on two issues. Firstly that it will investigate the allegations that EHC has broken the terms of its lease of land there. Secondly, that before giving planning permission for any development of those Fields, the Council will fully consider the implication that such development would have on the amenities of Ruislip.

Yours sincerely,

Joan Davis

Chairman

Copied to: Cllrs Bruce Baker, Catherine Dann, David Payne, Philip Corthorne, Brian Crowe, John Riley, Michael Markham. Douglas Mills, Susan O’Brien, Nick Hurd MP

Published in Environment on 19 May 2011.

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