Consultation on basketball court in Wray Crescent
Islington has announced a consultation event in Wray Crescent on Saturday September 16, between 1-4pm.
The consultation concerns plans for a PlayZone in Wray Crescent, which would be situated on the existing basketball court next to Wray Crescent. The public consultation has just begun and runs through until October 31.
Information to support a bid
Wray Crescent is one of 12 proposed places for these PlayZones and LBI is seeking feedback as it works towards making a funding bid to the Football Trust.
As we understand it, PlayZones are multi-functional facilities which can be used for a range of sports and activities such as basketball, cricket, football, netball, and tennis.
These spaces are, according to LBI, “usually the size of one or two tennis courts or a five-a-side kick around area.”
LBI states that PlayZones are floodlit all year, have high quality surfacing, provided with line markings, and are designed and operated based on feedback from the community.
Community feedback welcome
Islington stresses that community engagement and consultation are essential for this funding bid and that funding cannot be guaranteed.
“We need to show that the community want the site to be upgraded, to be granted the funding to do so,” they said.
Islington has published a feedback survey that asks some more questions about what people want.
Friends of Wray of course know that the basketball facility is used by many people and will be pressing to ensure one of its uses continues to be basketball. We also understand there is local demand for racquet based games, outdoor gym equipment and of course football.
You can have your say on these proposals here.
Event September 16, 1-4pm
The Wray Crescent event open drop in event takes place September 16 between 1-4.
“Members of the PlayZones team will be onsite to tell you more about this exciting funding bid and answer any questions. You’ll also be able to fill out paper copies of the survey and have an opportunity to really make a difference in your local community.”
We really encourage all local residents to comment on these proposals to help make sure whatever is put in place actually reflects what our community actually needs. Existing basketball court users should certainly make their voices heard.
We live at No8 Pavilion Mews. The front of our whole terrace of family homes faces the basketball court. The proposed floodlighting and increase in noise will make sleep impossible for our 4 and 2 year old who’s bedrooms are at the front of our house.
This is scheme should be opposed by FOW. It will be hired out in the main to pay back the grant required to build it and this will limit access for the community. At present, any child/adult can use the space whenever they wish, often splitting the court in half between different sports. This imbues children with civic values: they learn to share space. Floodlights will also impact the local residents – especially those in Pavilion Mews who live opposite the space. We should not forget that there is a special needs residential care home directly behind the court. The current plan cannot be compatible to their needs. The noise made by vocal football teams in the evening will be anti social . Within a square a mile there are 3 astroturfed spaces for the community: Crouch Hall Court, Arts and media school, St Marks Primary school. School sites are for private hire. There is already sufficient provision for private hire. If this scheme is to go ahead, it must be free to use at all times, with no floodlights. Will there be an environmental impact assessment on the effect of the flood lights on bats for whom the park is a habitat?