Row over playing fields divides church and parishoners (From Harrow Times)

Row over playing fields divides church and parishoners

7:59am Saturday 25th March 2006 in Search By Alex Melvin

A NORTH Harrow woman has branded her local vicar "uncaring" after he threatened to sell a church-owned playing field to property developers.

Marion Garner-Patel, of Kingsfield Avenue, was incensed when Reverend Stephen Keeble announced that he would listen to offers on the field around St George's Church in Pinner View.

The field, which had been used by sports clubs and scout and girl guide groups for more than 75 years, is now a "financial burden" to the church.

Mrs Garner-Patel said: "The reverend says they church cannot afford to keep hold of the field but it's an important part of the community.

"A tennis club and a cricket club used it in the past but they have moved on "The cricket club gave up the fight and moved to Watford when the reverend demanded £1,000 a year. There used to be lots of scout and guide groups using the church but it's now been cut to just one group.

"It's all very sad. If he gets his way, the church will receive around £1 million. Where will this money go?"

Reverend Keeble promised to retain the fields when he was appointed 12 years ago.

But St George's Parochial Church Council has organised a community planning day on March 25 to discuss "proposals for the future which will make better use of this land".

The church has brought in CPP Architects, a top London firm, to outline possibilities, including building housing on the site.

In a letter to Mrs Garner-Patel, the architects said: "The purpose of the day is to provide an open event to allow full and open dialogue about issues and needs in the local area before moving on to investigate options for the land.

"Should this lead to a planning application, details of the proposals will then be made available for local inspection."

Mrs Garner-Patel said: "We hope a big crowd turns up to show its anger.

"More housing in the area would be terrible. Traffic and parking problems are already horrendous. Reverend Keeble is not psychologically suited to his role as a community leader. He is supposed to be a caring Christian but he does not seem to care about the community using the field."

St George's Church celebrates its centenary this year. Both the church building and the hall are grade-II listed and maintenance work is expensive.

The church council bought three-and-a-half acres of land behind vicarage and church hall in 1923.

In 1942, the London Diocesan Fund decreed that the land could not be sold or built on. But this stipulation was deleted in 2002 after agreement between St George's and the Diocesan Authority.

Reverend Keeble said: "For many years the greater part of the church playing field was maintained rent-free by the parochial tennis and cricket clubs. In more recent times, however, these organisations were unable to fulfil their obligations and the burden of maintenance and demolishing dilapidated facilities has fallen on the church council.

"1st Headstone Scouts are subject to a lease which expires in 2008. The church would wish to accommodate them as part of any future development.

"Within the Diocese of London today there is an expectation that parishes should aim to be self-financing. The church council now considers it appropriate to develop proposals for its under-utilised field site."

Councillor Bill Stephenson, (Labour, Headstone ward) said: "There a very strong feeling among local residents that they do not want housing here.

"Councillor Asad Omar and I have met with CPP, who are considering affordable housing. Three-quarters of the land is designated private open space and it would be difficult to get planning permission. For the rest, they would have to have good reason to build on it.

"If the church cannot look after it, we could work in partnership with them. I have met the vicar and put this to him on three occasions but I don't think he is interested.

"Residents' views are paramount. They have been told in no uncertain terms it would be difficult to get planning permission."

The planning day runs from 11am to 4pm. All are welcome.