Whitewebbs Park users are protesting as the judicial review verdict is still awaited

Park users have formed a line around the proposed boundary of Tottenham Hotspur’s women’s football academy to show how open space will be lost

Around 100 people staged a protest at Whitewebbs Park at the weekend after Tottenham Hotspur presented their plans for a women’s and girls’ football academy to Enfield Council.

Park users formed a line along the southern boundary of the proposed academy area to show how much of Whitewebbs would be fenced off if the plans get the go-ahead and the council’s 25-year lease to the Premier League club goes ahead.

A verdict is still awaited in the judicial review case brought by Sean Wilkinson – chairman of the Friends of Whitewebbs Park group – and will determine whether the lease is legal or not.

Explaining the idea behind Sunday’s protest, Sean said: “One hundred Whitewebbs Park supporters formed a protest wall. The wall marked the 6ft fence line which will ban park users from around half of the public open space in Whitewebbs if Enfield Council allows Spurs’ proposals.

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“It was great to see so many people championing the cause of healthy, nature-rich public space in Enfield for all to enjoy. Spurs’ plans will benefit from a massive corporation and only a select few players. There are alternative sites available which would not deprive the people of Enfield of their beautiful park.”

The site planning request was submitted last month and includes building ten courses on the northern half of what was Whitewebbs Park Golf Course, while the southern half would be kept as parkland and “enhanced” with biodiversity improvements, including a new woodland area and new community facilities .

The judicial control verdict, which will follow three days of evidence heard at the High Court in Februaryis expected to be issued soon.

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