Olympian Seb Coe reacts to Merton Council's plans to charge kids to use footy pitches

Olympics chief Seb Coe has told Wimbledon People that he had hoped that the 2012 games would boost sport across the UK, rather than the other way round, after hearing of the possible loss of Saturday morning football for up to 1,700 kids in Merton.

After being told of proposals by Merton Council, to start charging individual little leagues in the borough more than £5,000 each to use football pitches, Lord Coe put out a statement saying he had hoped sporting facilities and leisure activities would be improved across the UK in the run up to the Olympics.

But, he told Wimbledon People in his position as chairman of London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) he had no influence on decisions at local council level.

"We do hope that hosting the London 2012 will help to improve sporting facilities and leisure activities across the whole of the UK," said Lord Coe, winner of two gold medals and two silver medals at previous Olympic games.

"However, LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games), which I Chair, is responsible for the planning and staging of the Games and it is not possible for me to become involved with matters that are for the local council.

"I would therefore suggest that you contact your local authority directly to discuss your concerns. I am sorry to send you a disappointing reply but I hope that you can understand my position."

Wimbledon Little League - a charity which encourages children of all abilities and income to play sport on Saturday mornings - is one of a number of little leagues now being asked to pay to use pitches.

Julian Stevens, who runs WLL, said the current proposals would mean the charity which had been allowed by successive councils to use pitches for free for the last 40 years, would be unable to keep going in the long-term, putting Saturday morning football in jeopardy for the 430 members, who play at Joseph Hood Rec.

He said the league, like others in the borough, was just about able to survive on the voluntary subs it receives from children who could afford to pay them, but the aim of the charity was to provide sport for children from all incomes and backgrounds, not just those who could afford it.

However, if the league had to pay the £5,248 suggested to use the pitches in the public park, there was a strong possibility it would no longer be able to operate.

"We're all volunteers here and we work hard to keep the league going. But if we are forced to pay more than £5,000 per season, which is an incredible amount of money to us, we will struggle to keep it going,"

Angry parents of children who play in WLL have been contacting Wimbledon People concerned at the plans.

Danny Wheeler, 41, and father of two boys who play for WLL, said while he didn't mind paying extra to keep the league going, the council had a nerve suggesting these proposals in the year of the London Olympics.

"It's a joke. In the year we are meant to be celebrating sport and encouraging kids to take up exercise, Merton want to introduce crippling fees which will have the opposite effect," he said.

"It's bad enough that no-one seems able to buy tickets for the Olympics, despite as Londoners having heavily contributed to the games, and now the local council proposals could lead to the loss of Saturday morning football for our kids.

"What will be the lasting legacy of London 2012 for children from Wimbledon? I'd like to know in what way they are benefiting from the Olympic games?"

Edward Foley from Winkworth Estate Agents in Wimbledon Village, said since he put Wimbledon People's story on the Winkworth Facebook page, parents had been voicing their concerns on the issue.

His own son plays in WLL.

"It's incredible that this has been suggested when we are constantly being reminded that childhood obesity is on the rise and in the year that we are hosting the Olympics," said Mr Foley.

 

Cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, Councillor Andrew Judge, defended the move to charge kids to use pitches, saying football had to be sustainable.

"Little League football is highly valued by the council and we appreciate the time and effort parents and volunteers put into arranging football for youngsters," he said.

"However the football must be sustainable. The council has started discussions with the little leagues about a contribution to the maintenance of the pitches. Nothing has been agreed, as discussions are ongoing."

What do you think of the proposals. Fair is these hard economic times or ludicrous? Let us know at Wimbledon People. Login for free and leave a comment below.