Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats have expressed alarm at news that the Labour council is negotiating to exclude local people from popular sports facility, Drapers Field, during Olympic year – just a few months after pledging to protect Waltham Forest’s green spaces and leisure facilities.
The news has sparked anger among local Lib Dem campaigners who say the all-weather pitch and playing fields are used by over 9,000 people every month. Information obtained by local Lib Dems shows that Labour Council Leader Chris Robbins has negotiated to lease the playing fields to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for possible use as a VIP car park or other Olympic related uses. As a result local children and football clubs will have nowhere to play in Olympic year, while international athletes compete for medals just a few hundred yards away.
Local Lib Dem activist Joe Dyer said: “To allow Drapers Field to be given over to the ODA and turned into a car park would be a travesty for local clubs and schools. The Olympics should be used to encourage sport, not destroy it. Under Labour the Council is in danger of missing a huge opportunity. There are no other all-weather pitches in the immediate area. This could cause enormous disruption to users.”