A wildlife expert has condemned Enfield Council for neglecting nature conservation at Whitewebbs Park amid plans for a football academy
Enfield: There’s been quite a stir over plans for a women’s football academy at Whitewebbs Park. The council is set to decide on this soon, and it’s causing a lot of buzz.
A wildlife expert, Russell Miller, is really upset about how the council is handling things. He feels they’ve overlooked the park’s importance for nature before agreeing to let Tottenham Hotspur build on it.
So, here’s the deal: Enfield Council has a 25-year lease with Spurs, but it hinges on getting planning permission. This would mean a big chunk of the park, mainly the old golf course, would be fenced off for the women’s team.
People like Chris Packham, who’s known from Springwatch, have already spoken out. He pointed out that we can’t have football on a dead planet, which really hits home.
Russell, who’s been in the ecology game for a while, claims the council didn’t follow the right steps when they reviewed wildlife sites back in 2020. He’s not from Enfield, but he’s been working in London for two decades, so he knows his stuff.
He’s particularly frustrated because the council didn’t even look at new sites for wildlife protection. Whitewebbs is surrounded by important wildlife areas, so it should have been on their radar.
He mentioned that even if the site isn’t top-notch, it’s crucial because it connects other wildlife areas. It’s like a bridge for animals, and that’s super important.
Three nearby sites are already recognized for their wildlife value, and they even brought beavers back to one of them last year. Russell thinks it’s odd that Whitewebbs wasn’t designated as a wildlife site, especially since it’s right in the middle of these areas.
He’s also pointed out that the council’s review didn’t consider biological records, even though there are grass snakes and newts at Whitewebbs. It’s like they’re cutting corners, but there’s still a duty to protect local wildlife.
While the council hasn’t set a date yet, it looks like the planning committee will discuss Spurs’ plans soon. Tottenham says they’ll plant a ton of new trees and create habitats for wildlife, but it’s hard to ignore the concerns.
They claim the academy will create jobs and help get more women and girls into football, which sounds great. But at what cost to the environment?
A council spokesperson insists they’ve followed all the right processes and that everyone who commented on the application will be informed about the meeting date.
