Campaigners launch petition against plans to build on Hackney Marshes

An artist’s impression of how the facilities might look. Photograph: Hackney Council

Proposals for a £3.6 million sports pavilion to be built on Hackney Marshes have been submitted to planners by the Council.

The plans have been met with strong criticism from campaign group Save Lea Marshes who object to proposals to build a new pavilion and car park on the North Marsh.

The building, which would replace the current facilities next to Cow Bridge, would comprise of 16 changing rooms for football and cricket teams, a kitchen, storage space and a viewing gallery for the show cricket pitch created in 2010.

A new car park with 68 spaces to be built to the west of the proposed pavilion is also included in the plans.

The council also seeks retrospective permission for the East Marsh car park to replace the one which was built over to create the temporary transport hub and other facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Opposition

However over the past year, campaign group Save Lea Marshes (SLM) have fought against the plans, concerned about the impact of the proposed car parks on the much-loved marshland, often dubbed the ‘green lung’ of the borough.

Save Lea Marshes want the council to build within its original footprint rather than create a new building on open land. The campaigners have submitted an official petition in the hope of securing the 750 signatures needed to trigger a debate in full council.

Campaigners mark out the footprint of the proposed pavilion on the Marshes. Photograph: Save Lea Marshes

Caroline Day, of Save Lea Marshes, said she was concerned that the proposed car parks are paving the way for future live music events on the marshes but that even if this were not the case the proposals were “wrong”.

She said: “It is wrong to be building on green space at a time when they will not be building car parks for any of their leisure venues within the city. It goes against the Council’s own transport policy and its frankly unnecessary.

“We are not against people having facilities for sports. But it is very clear that there is a choice between having a huge car park and building on green space and building a perfectly suitable pavilion that has lesser car parking.

“We think that [building on the original site] would be far more suitable considering how precious the marshes are and how little green space London has left. We need to preserve it.”

“I would urge anyone who does use the marsh for sports and recreation to consider supporting us in demanding something that is environmentally important and that is good for everyone.”

Not fit for purpose

The current changing room block. Photograph: Hackney Council

A council spokesperson said that claims that the car park will be used to facilitate future live events were “categorically untrue”.

The council also argues that the new car park will replace a previous 240 space car park which previously existed on the site and that the new pavilion and car park are necessary to bring the current facilities up to date.

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, said that the current changing rooms are not “fit for purpose”.

He said: “When not being used for sport this is a beautiful and tranquil area and, as such, we’ve tried hard to ensure the new pavilion will be as unobtrusive and eco-friendly as possible, not detrimental to local wildlife and shielded by greenery. The development will actually increase the number of trees on the marshes.”

Save Lea Marshes are waiting for their official petition to be approved by Hackney Council.