Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces concerning the Bowling Green at Finsbury Circus. The Town Clerk noted that an email dated 29 November from a representative of the Bowling Club had been circulated to Members outside of the meeting for information.

The Superintendent noted that the recommendation of the report was based on balancing the needs of all users of Finsbury Circus to best effect. In response to a question, he confirmed that, as far as he was aware, an alternative pay for play bowling facility was available at Finsbury Square.

A Member noted that the Bowling Club has been under threat since at least the 1980s, and that he was not comfortable with the argument that the Bowling Club would preclude the use of the space by other users. He queried whether the City of London Corporation offered such a unique space elsewhere within the Square Mile where sport was promoted.

The Superintendent replied that the key issue concerning sport in the Square Mile was space – for example there were no football facilities but there was a netball facility at St Botolph’s.

A Member commented that several major developments in the City over the past few years had led to a significant increase in the number of City workers, leading to an intensification of the City’s daytime population. These workers had to be factored into the overall provision of City open spaces.

A vote was held on the recommendation within the report, which was carried 10 votes to nil.

RESOLVED, that Members

·         Reaffirm the resolution taken in December 2014 to endorse the reinstatement of Finsbury Circus Garden to be laid out for general public access as a high quality garden space and without the introduction of specialist sporting surfaces exclusively aimed at specific user groups.