At this week’s Full Council (Wednesday 22nd November) Cllr David Hopkins will be presenting a motion calling for increased provision of playing fields in our ever-expanding city, to meet the very real levels of demand for such facilities, especially following the success of the England Women’s International team at European and International level.
Cllr Hopkins sees this as being a real long-lasting legacy in celebration of the achievements of
local International Superstar Leah Williamson.
Cllr Hopkins is calling on the City Council to work directly with local sports clubs, including his
own local Woburn and Wavendon Lions where demand far exceeds the over sixty teams the
club currently supports.
Cllr Hopkins comments, ‘We are uniquely situated in MK as the City Council looks to expand to
a population close to 500,000 by 2050 in that we can design in more green space for sport and
leisure.
Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an
important contribution to the health and well-being of communities both today and for the
decades to come. Planning policies for Plan:MK 2 should be based on robust and up-to-date
assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation facilities and opportunities for
new provision.
The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or
surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area. Information gained
from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sports and recreational
provision is required.’
Cllr Hopkins will advocate for an independent report should be commissioned reviewing
soccer and outdoor facilities across the MK City Council today and the levels of ‘real’ demand
for the future. In addition, it should report on how future growth can best accommodate that
need and how pitches should be sensibly located away from grid roads to ensure they can be
used safely and effectively.
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