'Victory' claimed in battle for park

4:50pm Friday 4th July 2008

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CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a York park from being sold to make way for housing were today celebrating as they claimed victory. City of York Council has voted that no part of Balfour Street play area, in Holgate, will be sold before a review of all recreation areas in the Leeman Road area is completed.

Part of the site, nicknamed “Back Park” by local councillors and residents, has been removed from the authority’s approved capital programme, which had shown the land as a possible site to sell for housing after next year. City of York councillor James Alexander, who represents Holgate ward, presented a petition of more than 250 signatures against any part of the site being sold off to a full meeting of the council last November.

And earlier this year, more than 20 volunteer local residents set up Friends Of Back Park Steering Group with the aim of stopping any part of the site being sold off for development. Fellow ward councillor Sonja Crisp said: “I am delighted we councillors have fulfilled our election pledge to the Leeman Road residents to save Back Park from being sold off by the council for redevelopment.

“With the Leeman Road area asset management plan now under way and ward-committee funding available we can now move towards a plan for much-needed improvements to the park. The residents on the back park steering group will be a fundamental part of that process.”

Coun Denise Bowgett, who also represents the ward, said: “I am just really, really pleased. We can now look at how to improve this park area, making it even better for local residents.”

Council leader Andrew Waller said the review was expected to be completed by May next year.

He said: “The Liberal Democrat executive has consistently supported a review of leisure provision in the Leeman Road area and has consulted neighbouring properties about the future of the site.

“A firm commitment was made by the executive that no sale would be considered until the results of the review were known, however, misinformation by the Labour councillors was threatening to undermine the process, and so I proposed the changes to the capital programme to ensure that further mischief couldn’t be made.

“I used to live next to the area in question and I am aware of the potential areas nearby on the large Victoria Stray, or teenagers’ play area by Water End, and several more areas that could be enhanced for leisure.”