This week I have spent more time at playing fields than I have in many years, having been a staunch refuser of participation in organised sports ever since I learned how to get out of hockey practice by claiming a series of ailments stolen from an old medical textbook in the school library.
Along with my fellow Norreys councillors, I have been privileged to meet with and hear from the myriad users of the Borough’s recreation grounds and witnessed the extraordinary commitment of our residents to the countless formal and informal sports activities organised by a network of committed volunteers.
In the debates leading up to the budget council meeting on Thursday, February 20, the ruling Liberal Democrats announced a plan to charge for parking at council-owned car parks that have been free-to-use up till now. This was, they insisted, to cover for the rising costs coupled with ever-decreasing government contributions that makes Wokingham Borough Council always at risk of deficit.
As a Norreys councillor, and a resident, the immediate concern was Cantley – a recreation area used by me, my neighbours, friends and pretty much everyone I know.
The proposal was to bring in charges in line with Dinton Pastures. This is currently £2.30 per hour between 6am and 10pm at night. The strength of feeling from residents became clear over the week as Wokingham Labour’s petition opposing the imposition of parking charges gained more than 2,000 signatures in a matter of hours, while many letters and emails detailed the importance of Cantley to the community and highlighted the vibrancy and the commitment of local people and organisations to sport, leisure and the bringing together of people for support, recreation and joy.
Parents, including my estimable Norreys colleague Cllr Nagi Nagella, detailed the exhaustive training and match schedules for their children’s hockey and football teams.
Team supporters and away fans talked about the three- to four-hour stints they put in every Saturday to help set up the matches, support their teams and break down the equipment.
Cycling and walking clubs emphasised the role of Cantley as a meeting place – reached by car – for people who wanted to undertake these sociable activities.
Informal support groups spoke about the importance of Cantley as a hub where people could meet, talk, and exercise.
Members of sporting clubs have asked questions at council meetings and talked with us as councillors about the role of volunteers in running their activities and the risks that charges would bring to their future viability.
Wokingham Theatre team members, many of whom are volunteers, spoke of the evenings they give up running workshops for children and young people, and the parents who drive their children to and pick them up from Cantley car park.
Dog owners spoke of the importance of the social network of taking their pets for walks: people from all over the Borough come together to enjoy the freedom of the park.
Women spoke of the value of being able to park near the recreation area and not having to risk walking home or to their car in the dark after exercising with friends.
The imposition of parking charges at Cantley would mean that people who give their time, energy, and organisational flair for free would end up paying perhaps hundreds of pounds in a year. Many would simply not be able to continue.
Others were concerned that children’s parents would no longer be able to drive them to Cantley to participate in activities given the extra costs associated with parking and the risks and difficulties of parking elsewhere.
All these social interactions, vital and fragile as they are, were put at risk by a decision to regard Cantley, and its users, as an asset to be ‘sweated’ into providing more income for its notional owner – the council – rather than a community resource to be nurtured and protected.
Thankfully, the Executive of the Council has agreed to withdraw the proposal for increased parking charges from the forthcoming budget, but the risk remains that the users of the park in all their vibrant and extraordinary variety will continue to be seen as potential revenue streams rather than the purpose and reason for the energy, enthusiasm, even on a rainy and unpromising February Saturday morning, and community spirit that has been in such evidence, and was so strongly defended this weekend.
The Wokingham Borough Council Executive must acknowledge that support and nurture what is already being done, and will continue to be done, by the members of that community, and not to seek rent or profit from it.
Wokingham Labour calls on the Executive to guarantee that parking charges at our sports parks across Wokingham Borough will be ruled out in future.
Cllr Marie-Louise Weighill is a Labour councillor for Norreys ward
