7:40am Saturday 14th February 2009
By Chris Wickham
Eight years ago it would have cost £1. Now Richmond Council will have to fork out £100,000 to buy a field in Teddington.
It emerged this week that Richmond Council is to spend the six-figure sum to purchase the land – in Broom Road opposite the recreation ground next to Teddington School – as part of the redevelopment of the school.
Council papers reveal the land was first offered to the authority in 2001, as part of the development of the old Normansfield Hospital site.
Eight years ago, the council gave planning permission to Laing Homes and Richmond Churches Housing Trust to turn the former hospital into 190 new homes and a hotel and, as part of the scheme, the developers agreed to hand over the sports field to a charitable trust.
Councillor Tony Arbour, who represents Hampton Wick on Richmond Council and has the land in his ward, said the authority turned down the opportunity to purchase it for £1 and it was instead given to the Royal Canoe Club Trust. It has remained largely derelict since.
He added: “Only Liberal Democrats would be so stupid as to squander money like this, it is no wonder that they are a laughing stock and that our residents have to put up with the highest council taxes in London.”
Coun Stephen Knight, Richmond Council deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, said the council had intended to secure the land as a public sports field.
In 2004, it was turned over to the nearby Royal Canoe Club Trust, but the arrangement did not work and the trust began attempts to sell the land on the open market.
“There was some potential therefore for the land to fall into private hands,” he added.
“In order to resolve this situation and its uncertainties, and fully secure the original intention, to provide school and community use of the land, the council entered into what were constructive negotiations with the Royal Canoe Club to purchase the land and, thankfully, an agreement has been reached with them that we do so.
“The purchase has yet to be concluded in legal terms and, therefore, its detail remains confidential. It would be inappropriate for the council to comment on it at this time.”
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