Res.Update9

Save Our Rec
PROTECT
DUNDONALD
REC
Sport England against the loss of sport facilities
just days after the Olympics
Merton closes
Sports facilities
Sport England, the Government’s
statutory body for sport, is opposing
the loss of sports facilities at
Dundonald Recreation Ground. Merton
Council promised “new improved sports facilities
offered to the local community with the expansion
of the school”, but the published plans show the
Rec will lose 50% of sport/community space.
The reduction of the changing rooms, from six to
four, breaches Sport England guidelines and could
lead to the loss of one football pitch. The
Tennis Courts will be transferred to the
school and the closure of the bowling green
has already been officially announced.
Passionate
about
Dundonald
Rec
Wimbledon Guardian reported
the celebrations by the
entire local community of
the prestigious Green Flag Award for our Recreation Ground.
The judging panel were welcomed at the Rec by Members of
the Friends of Dundonald Park, Protect Dundonald Rec, the
Dundonald Tennis Club and local residents determined to keep
the Rec open and green. (continue p 3)
RESIDENTS UPDATE
number 9 - September 27 th 2012
r e c r e a t i o n • s p o r t • l e i s u r e
f o r t h e c o m m u n i t y
Let’s Save Our Rec
for the present and future generations
This could be one of the biggest
Sport facility losses suffered in
t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e B o r o u g h
W e b s i t e : w w w . p r o t e c t d u n d o n a l d r e c . o r g
E - m a i l : p r o t e c t d u n d o n a l d r e c @ h o t m a i l . c o . u k
INSIDE THIS
EDITION
Green Flag awarded to
Dundonald Rec
page 3
Merton Council’s Olympic
legacy page 3
Planning Consultation
page 4
The Real cost: Money
down the drain
page 5
Planning application
delayed page 5
Other Open Space
at risk page 6
Merton Council may have to face a Judicial Review if the plans are forced through (continued p 2)
MODIFICATION OF THE
COVENANT PUTS THE
ENTIRE REC AT RISK
Upper Tribunal
UPDATE
Details of the application to the Lands
Tribunal revealed: The proposed modification
of the Covenant that has protected the Rec for 119
years will expose the entire Recreation ground to the risk
of future development. Other parks in Merton could be
also at risk (continued p 6)

What happens
Since being elected as your MP I have consistently supported moves to stop building on our green
spaces in Wimbledon. The need for green spaces is immeasurable; be it for children to play, residents to
exercise their pets as I do, a home for local sports teams, the place for exercise or just for local residents
to enjoy; our quality of life is enhanced by green fields, parks and Commons. We endanger them at our
peril and I shall always support and protect them.
Wimbledon MP
Mr Stephen Hammond
P l a n n i n g U p d a t e :
The diagram below shows the next stages:
C o u n c i l
P l a n n i n g
A p p l i c a t i o n
1
What can I
do now?
What if the
Council
approve the
application?
280 objections
were submitted
by locals
2
Page 2
N E X T
November 2012
The Mayor of London
& Secretary of State
will be Notified
As this is a project which requires building on public Open Space, in breach of the
Core Planning Strategy and has been objected by Sport England, it has to be
referred up to the Secretary of State for decision.
3
Planning
DECISION 4
• Action group: We are currently organising a series of protest events aiming to make clear
to members of the Planning Committee, who may consider this application in November, that
the majority of residents who objected to the planning application will not allow any breach or
bending of the planning rules that prevent building on Open Space or the loss of sport facilities.
If you wish to become actively involved please let us know by email or letter. We need as many
local people as possible to join us, to show the local strength of feeling.
• Get involved and support any organisation that uses the Rec, for instance: the Tennis
Club, football clubs, The Friends of Dundonald Park. All these groups of local people, from all
walks of life, are against the loss of Open Space and sports facilities.
• Join our mailing list to receive updates, if you haven’t already done so.
• Make a donation, (see attached information). The organisation ‘Protect Dundonald Rec’ is
run entirely by local people on a voluntary basis, giving their time and skills to the community,
but we have to pay for expert legal advice to fight the Council’s lawyers.
• If Sport England were to uphold their objection and Merton Council were
minded to approve the application despite this, then the application may be
CALLED IN by the Secretary of State. This would be far from ideal for Merton
Council as they would not have full control of the outcome. Is this perhaps the reason
why the date of the consideration by the Planning Committee has been postponed, for
second time?
• If Sport England were to withdraw their objection and the application
was subsequently approved by Merton’s Planning Committee, in violation of
all regulations against building on Open Space, this would lead to a Judicial
Review – a process which could take years. This Review would fully scrutinise
step-by step the role of every single official and councillor who participated during the
whole process. Our solicitor Richard Buxton is a specialist in Planning Issues and
Judicial Reviews and will be assisting us in this legal challenge.

Passionate about
Dundonald Rec
Anne Dawson, Secretary of the Friends of Dundonald Park, told the panel of ‘Green Flag’ Judges:
“This park is at the very heart of the local community, it deserves a Green Flag and this would doubtless help in its protection. We all share a
strong love for this park and a deep conviction that it must stay green”.
M e r t o n C o u n c i l ’ s O l y m p i c l e g a c y :
Tennis Courts to be
transferred to the School
Football Pitch
potentially at risk
B E C O M E A
S P O N S O R
Bowling Green
Closing down
Page 3
Communities Minister
Andrew Stunell said:
“Great parks and green spaces
have a huge impact on local communities,
providing places to play
and relax as well as bringing generations
together in a variety of
ways. They are fundamental to our
quality of life, whether in cities,
towns or villages, and the Green
Flag Award scheme seeks to help
raise the standards of them all.”
50% less space
for sports teams
Sport England will oppose
any loss of sports Facilities
Members of the many Football teams have expressed deep
concern about the loss of sports facilities in the pavilion
and the risk of a substantial reduction of football at the Rec.
David Archer from Dundonald Chase FC said:
“It’s unbelievable and shows contempt for the sporting
community. It is the year of the Olympics and what are they doing
for us? Cutting the number of toilets and changing rooms, putting the
use of one of the pitch’s at risk and shutting the bowling green used
by local senior citizens, it’s a disgrace! “
We need YOU now more than ever. We are currently consulting solicitors
and other experts (In preparation for the Court Hearing at the
Upper Tribunal) and the potential Judicial Review. Please DONATE
ONLINE on our website or by cheque (see attached information sheet)

The Planning consultation - Here is what they said:
The Design Review Panel met on
24th January 2012 and reported:
“The Panel noted that there had been some improvements
to the scheme since it was reviewed in
December 2011. Notwithstanding this, the Panel
still felt that the applicant had not provided
a clear and understandable explanation for
why the new building had to encroach onto
the open space setting.
This was following a further explanation by the
applicant, which related to the internal configuration
of an on-site extension not working efficiently internally
and issues to do with tree retention. The
Panel felt that the material provided simply
did not show an attempt to provide all the
new building on the existing site, nor did it
show how this could not be made to work.
Hence the Panel’s strong scepticism that this
issue had not been properly addressed.”
Page 4
The Friends of Dundonald Park objected
to the application on the following grounds:
“(i) The Loss of Public Open Space
(ii) The Adverse Effects of Development on the Park
(iii) The Effect on Recreational Facilities and Access.”
“Whilst sympathetic to the council’s need to provide
school places, in our view the case has not been
made for these proposals which are an unacceptable
departure from local, London and national planning
policies. There should be no loss of public
open space in our much valued local park.
The proposals will continue the current uncertainty
which is holding back improvements, make the
park highly unattractive during a lengthy
construction phase, and bring long-term
harm to the park.”
Over 280 local residents objected to the proposals (95% of the representations
received by the planning department). Here is what some of them had to say:
“In educational terms, the Council has identified the
problem of an increased need for school places, but
does not seem to have seriously considered other
viable options to solve it. Such a problem could in
all possibility cease to be a problem in a few years,
but the proposed solution will endure into the foreseeable
future and probably beyond, long after the
problem it was designed to solve is forgotten.”
INT, Wilton Grove
“Astonishingly the Pavilion facilities will be even
smaller than they are currently … users will be
dependent on the goodwill of the school and not
vice versa as it should be.”
JW, Hartfield Crescent
“I believe that even people who are pro the development
will come to realise the high price the local community
will be paying for these 200 extra spaces. A
high price that the Council is trying to brush under the
carpet with the propaganda that there is ‘no other
choice’. There is. A new school.”
PN, The Quadrant
“Merton owns a great deal of brown field sites which
can be developed to make a new school…The residents
of Merton cannot be expected to pay for the
past mistakes of the council, selling off Victorian
school buildings, such as Pelham School in Southey
Road, for private development…Do I trust Merton
Council to do the best for my community? No, I do
not.”
ABD, Herbert Road
Some of the trees which provide a harmonious green backdrop
to the Rec and soften the impact of the school buildings
All would NEED TO BE REMOVED for the new development or are threatened by construction traffic
1
2
3
4
1. Tree of Heaven, 2. Field Maple 3. Hedge around the tennis courts. 4. Mature ash The freestanding mature ash tree is a fine
specimen, of good shape, and prominent in views across the Rec. 5. Silver Birch. 6. Drummond's Norway Maple. 7. Sargent's Cherry
5
6
7

The REAL cost of the cheapest option
Council tax and other money down the drain
In the last few years the Council has spent almost £160,000 on
improvements to the children’s play area
£94,048 for the major upgrading when much of the play
apparatus was installed
£65,557 on the further additions, made only two years ago,
including the sand pit, using Play Pathfinder money.
A further £13,171 has been spent on upgrading
the pavilion in the last 3 years.
The Council is unwilling to divulge even a ballpark figure
for the budget for the rebuildiing of the pavilion or the
extensive construction and landscaping works required for relocating
facilities and extending the school playground on to the
Rec.
It says that this will not be available until after late autumn
2012, when tendering is completed.
PLANNING APPLICATION DELAYED:
IS THE COUNCIL THINKING AGAIN?
On 21st August the London Borough of Merton has announced that the planning application for
the expansion of Dundonald School is expected to go to the Planning Committee in November, a further
delay of two months after the previous postponement from July to September.
According to the Council….. The Truth is
……..”the delay is to allow the Council to
undertake more work and provide more information
following comments by Merton Council’s
Design Review Panel* and respondents to the
consultations “that more work needs to be done
to ensure all the different options for expanding
Dundonald school have been fully explored”, as
well as Sport England’s** request for further
information on the current use of MUGA
* Merton Council's Design Review Panel comprises a
group of architects and independent professionals and
advises the Council on design issues in relation to both
major planning applications and pre-application development
proposals.
** Sport England have a role protecting sports provision
and must be formally consulted on any English planning
applications that affect playing fields.
Page 5
The school expansion proposals
include digging up the existing,
very popular, play area and
constructing a new one where the
bowling green is
currently, close to
Fairlawn Road.
It will now be demolished
and much reduced
facilities provided.
This means that councillors will be
asked, at a time of acute austerity,
to vote through a
totally uncosted
proposal.
WASTE
of money
WASTE
of money
BLANK
cheque?
• Sport England have expressed serious
concerns for the loss of sporting facilities in
Dundonald Recreation Ground and are intending
to object to the proposals.
• Over 280 local residents, as well as local
sport organisations and the Friends of Dundonald
Park, have forwarded their strong objections
to the planning department (95% of all
representations received opposed the plans).
• The National Planning Casework Unit, on
behalf of the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government, is presently
monitoring this application and have informed
us that they will intervene if Merton Council was
minded to approve this application.
• Merton Council’s Design Review Panel have
expressed concern about the encroachment on
open space.
GIVEN THE COUNCIL’S CLAIM OF THE ABSOLUTE URGENCY TO DELIVER THIS AND
OTHER SCHOOL EXPANSIONS: WHY THE DELAY?

Proposed changes to the Restrictive Covenant
The Council has given us constant assurances
that they need “less than 300 sqm” to expand
the school and the rest of the Rec will continue
to be protected. The Council’s application to
the Upper Tribunal shows these assurances to
be worthless.
The application documents refer to an area
“coloured green” but do not specify its size.
The accompanying maps show a “green” area
of some 2,422 sqm (including the new school
playground, the school building and the
MUGA). But the Council insists it refers to the
296 sqm which is to be a school playground.
Why has the Council not applied for the piece
of land on which they intend to build the
school? Council Official Tom Proctor has said
that the application is “in principle”: the new
wording of the Covenant proposed by the
Council says:
“ …no building or other erection not reasonably
required for use in connection with
a pleasure ground and/or the adjoining
Dundonald Primary School shall at any
time be erected or made upon the said
piece or parcel of land …”
Other “public benefit” open space at risk too
The Rec is “public benefit” but the Council is trying
to stifle opposition at the Upper Tribunal by
claiming that objectors have failed to identify an
enforceable legal entitlement to the benefit of the
restrictive covenant. Are they saying the Rec is
NOT for public benefit, or are they saying local
people are not the “public”?
winc hes ter white
E S T A T E A G E N T S
Page 6
If Merton residents are prevented from defending
a public benefit covenant then ALL other open
spaces “protected” by such agreements are at risk.
John Innes Park and Church Fields in Merton Park
have similar agreements. Will they be in
jeopardy when the Council decides to expand
Rutlish School or Merton Park Primary?
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Proposed new
wording puts
entire Rec at risk
This amendment would allow the school
to be built anywhere on the Rec, subject
only to planning permission which as we
know is easily forced through. So much for
“principles”.

Dundonald Rec
Tennis Courts
destined to be closed
to the public?
Our local Tennis Courts
by Toby H
I've been involved for many years with Racquets Sports representing England
and winning several international championships. Sport is a key element of
my life and for other people’s lives, it is essential to keep fit (both physically
and mentally). It is also an excellent way of meeting other people and
integrate with the local community.
I joined Dundonald Tennis Club last year chiefly to stay fit and have people to play tennis with, however
the best benefit is that I now feel part of the local Dundonald community. I was already making
use of the tennis courts, whenever I could find an opponent, but joining the club has made finding
someone to play with much easier. I’ve met people of all ages and backgrounds, good players, not
so-good players (not sure which classification I fit into!), househusbands, retired people, part-time
workers, home-workers, parents and their children.
There are many levels of play going on at the Dundonald Courts. From knock-arounds to five setters.
It’s a friendly, welcoming club, why don’t you join us?
www.dundonalrectennisclub.org
League and friendly matches
All levels (from total beginner to advanced)
Dundonald Rec Tennis Club
W I M B L E D O N
Page 7
Join your local
Tennis Club it’s
FREE ...
info@dundonaldrectennisclub.org

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WE URGE YOU TO KEEP THE
POSTERS
DISPLAYED IN YOUR WINDOWS
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
If yours is faded or beginning to look tatty,
we have more copies, please contact us.
Visit our website:
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Page 8
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