On these days all Olympic Park venues will be operational and a large increase in the number of Olympic Games visitors is expected.
The Council has lodged a planning application for the reinstatement of Drapers Field when it relinquished by the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Post Olympic reinstatement as a public park including provision of sports pitches (including a relocated synthetic turf pitch), formation of new play areas, refurbishment of the pavilion, new pathways and landscaping
Any comments on this application should be addressed to:
The Cathall Liberal Democrats are concerned that copies of the plans and other documents are not readily available on the council’s website.
They understand that one proposal is for a footpath to be laid down stretching from the entrance in Temple Mills Lane directly to the exit in Leyton High Road, to encourage students from Chobham Academy to cut across the playing field rather than use the existing pavement. This effectively reduces the amount of space for sporting activities. Indeed, the full-size grass football pitch has already been abandoned, leaving just the junior pitch.
The Playing Pitch Strategy says that the south of the borough is under provided with playing pitches. Are the council not interested in encouraging sporting activities in Leyton?
We have manged to get a look at what the Council proposes for Drapers Field.
The Masterplan (above) shows that the all weather pitch will be re-sited and there is inclusion of some beach volleyball play areas. Maybe the Council is thinking of re-applying for the £100,000 lottery money that it had to return last year when they made arrangements to give the site to the Olympic Authority for warehousing space for the Olympics.
Below is a closer look at the planned beach volleyball area:
To enlarge the Masterplann, click on this link – Drapers Field – masterplan
The planning application by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) to use Drapers Field is still to be submitted to Waltham Forest Council’s Planning Committee. News is that it will go to the Planning Committee on 2nd August.
The information regarding how much compensation that the Council will get, through what is known as section 106 and section 111, has still to be finalised. The money received will be used to improve Abbotts Park, Marsh Lane and of course Drapers Field.
The good news is that the money allocated to Drapers Field will be to re-instate the all-weather pitch and introduce new landscaping, access, and community sports facilities. This is good news, as previously there was no mention of the all-weather pitch, or sports facilities being replaced, only that Drapers would be turned into a ‘special park’.
The other not so good news Councillor Bob Sullivan has been hearing, is that the ODA want to chop down two mature trees so that they can get access to the field by their lorries. He has followed this up and it is being challenged by council officers in the tree department who feel that access can be achieved without chopping down the trees. He will update again when he receives any further news on this.