Call for a level playing ground over Longtown plans
Last updated 13:37, Friday, 14 November 2008
A MEETING to unveil plans for an overhaul of public services in Longtown was dominated by residents’ mistrust of the council.
The Longtown Moving Forward project, spearheaded by Cumbria County Council, has been consulting for the past nine months on plans to revamp the town.
Local people voted on options but out of 300 votes, 100 chose to back none of the four plans – voting for option five.
This forced officials to piece together ideas for a new proposal, which was unveiled to the community at a neighbourhood forum meeting on Wednesday night.
But local people hit out with fate of the playing fields dominating discussions.
County councillors have already voted to demolish the unused buildings on Lochinvar School and the playing fields are to be sold for money to pay for the revamp.
It is thought it will be re-developed for housing and a new pitch with a sports pavilion is to be built on the current parish playing fields site.
Longtown Football Club currently play on the Lochinvar grounds.
Rodney Boguszynski, chair of the club, spoke at the meeting. He said: “I would question the voting process.
“The majority of people voted for option five and the reason is because they wanted to keep the playing fields for playing purposes so why has this option been ignored?”
John Mallinson, county councillor for Stanwix and Irthington, added: “If we did not sell the fields we would have nothing to fund the other developments.
“200 people voted for something and they knew this would involve selling the playing fields.”
Mr Boguszynski added: “I was assured that the field would be left alone.
“People sat in my living room and took my picture and I put my name to the Longtown Moving Forward newsletter.”
He said to councillors: “Do you have any idea how much suspicion there is?”
Ray Bloxham, city councillor for Longtown and Rockcliffe, added: “Longtown has been left out in the cold for years. I understand the scepticism.
“But this is a real opportunity for the town and the project is about what you as a community want.”
Residents also raised concerns about the parish playing fields site – which is to be redeveloped – with some branding it a “quagmire”.
Kieran Barr, corporate research officer for the county council, promised a full study would be carried out, adding: “If the parish playing fields are not playable, we will not make you play there.”
He said the club would not be moved from the fields until an alternative is found.
One member of the public asked who would undertake the study of the parish fields and called for the residents to commission their own.
Mr Mallinson hit out at the “mistrust” being displayed and when residents clapped in agreement, he said: “I think that is outrageous.”
Longtown Moving Forward is planning a new children’s centre, nursery and play areas, a customer centre and a refurbished library with car park.
As well as the new full-sized pitch on the playing fields there will be a pavilion with changing rooms, an outdoor play area to be designed by young people and a car park.
The council says the project could be complete by 2011.
