Controversial new community facilities for south Leighton are set to cost the taxpayers thousands each year and cause misery to residents living near the site.
The progress of plans for the new Astral Park pavilion came before a specially called meeting of Leighton-Linslade Town Council on Thursday night when members heard that the building will run at an increasing loss which will be under-written by the authority. In a bid to minimise the ever growing increase in costs for the £1.35m scheme the plan is now to provide only two changing rooms (instead of four) and to site it closer to residents.
Residents fear the move will increase anti-social behaviour and horrific parking problems, with away football teams clogging the narrow streets with their vehicles.
Colin Johnson, spokesman for the Southern Estates LB Residents’ Group, who attended the meeting said afterwards: “On the positive side we are very pleased that the pavilion design has been altered to meet local residents needs for a good size community room. The latest design will seat 60-80 people.
“ But residents local to the new position on Astral Park are not happy because they are certain that away football teams and visiting supporters will park at the end of Moorhouse Path and block their access. This is already happening. They do not think car parking restrictions are going to help.”
Mr Johnson said that it was also feared that cash earmarked for a new community centre opposite Sandhills, in Billington Road near its junction with Kestrel Way, may have been diverted to help pay for Astral Park. The existing very popular Sandhills community house has less than four years left on its lease before it must move and it was expected to go across the road into a purpose built community centre.
He added: “The access to the parking for the pavilion is still controversial as plans to open up end of Johnson Drive for access still not approved. This whole project is not thought through well. It will be madness on match days. If this is not approved then all residents oppose the use if Moorhouse Path as an access point.”
Town clerk, Pat Kingsnorth said: “Recent public consultations showed that more community space was wanted. Changing rooms are not required for junior football, only adult. It is anticipated that when and if more funds become available, the changing rooms will be extended -as could the community room.
“Whilst there is no council resolution to this effect at the present time, it is assumed that the council will underwrite the anticipated loss and we are preparing draft budgets at the moment which will undoubtedly reflect this.
“The proposed building is still some distance away from houses. I consider that there will be less anti-social behaviour generally. We can only build what we have money for but we are building it so the community room can be expanded, possibly with smaller rooms.”