In 2008 Wandsworth Council attempted to lease out to a private developer a giant chunk of the Tooting Common Triangle to be turned into private all-weather games pitches. A very successful campaign of public opposition forced the Council to retreat.
But now they're at it again, throwing the youth club premises by the playground into the deal, to be converted into changing facilities for the private pitches. The developer would, of course, charge the public to access a large area which has been Common land for decades if not centuries.
How do I know? A consultation notice has just gone up to give one month's notice from August 7, while everyone is on holiday, to lodge objections and comments. Though these pitches would undoubtedly be used over weekends, they would lie unused all week except perhaps in the evenings while depriving the general public 24/7 of a much-loved public amenity. In particular, the privatisation would severely reduce the area where dogs and children may exercise and play without the danger of running into an open road.
The map on the consultation notice, by the way, is not only an inaccurate representation of the area but is dated October 2013: the Council has been sitting on this for 10 months before springing it on the public when perhaps they hope that enough of us are away so they can force this very suspicious deal through while our backs are turned.
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