CAN ANYTHING BE DONE?

After many years of hard work to achieve community ownership of the playing fields at Udney Park, the sanctions imposed on owner Mr Wu have created hurdles that seem impossible to overcome.

In summary

1. The fields are in the legal title of Mr Wu. Mr Wu is a sanctioned individual in the UK and thus the fields are a frozen asset
2. Whilst the fields are a frozen asset nothing can be done to increase the value of the asset by way of refurbishing the pavilion or upgrading the sports grounds
3. As things stand, the fields will remain in an indefinite limbo until either Mr Wu has sanctions lifted, or the Treasury confiscates the frozen asset and auctions the fields. This could take many years to unravel, and the legal process is far from clear.
4. Teddington RFC have an existing lease with Mr Wu for circa 1/3rd of the site. They have been advised that they have a legal right to remain and continue to carry out basic maintenance of the grounds. They have suspended all rental payments to Mr Wu. They continue to use this portion of the fields - principally for floodlight training
5. Teddington RFC advised that they have cancelled the sub-letting arrangements with Tennis for Teddington - in part because the courts are deteriorating (one is now unsafe) and they are not able to carry out improvement works.
6. There appears to be no legal basis to provide access the other 2/3rds of the fields for community use by community clubs. This portion of the site therefore remains out of use.
7. The Foundation has exerted political pressure to explore ways of unlocking this situation, but to no avail
8. The Foundation has developed an outline playing field strategy for the site. In line with LBRUT directives, the Foundation has engaged a specialist consultant (FMG) to carry out a sanity check on the business plan to demonstrate that the fields can be operated without reliance on the public purse. This has confirmed the financial viability of the Foundation's proposals.
9. The Foundation have proposed a CPO of the land to accelerate community ownership rather than waiting in limbo as item 3

Unfortunately, the obstacles to a CPO appear insurmountable. LBRUT have confirmed that the CPO process could take many years and cost a substantial six-figure sum which the Foundation would be expected to underwrite.

At the end of this process, the price of the land would be determined by a RICS valuer who could decide that the fields were worth what they were acquired for (£3.5m). The Foundation would have to underwrite this purchase price. This is a ludicrously high valuation given the planning restrictions in place and not one that the Foundation can afford.

Faced with these financial challenges, the Trustees of the Foundation are unable to pursue a CPO, so for now at least, all efforts are on hold.

Many people have tried to unravel this situation to whom the Foundation owe thanks - not least our MP, Munira Wilson, and the late councillor, Robin Brown.

The local Trust headed by Mark Jopling, Philip Barnes, David Hogden, and Neil Sinclair, has worked tirelessly to protect the fields and provided support in the background.

We now face the ludicrous proposition that these playing fields will remain in the ownership of Mr Wu indefinitely - a sanctioned criminal with four different identities currently incarcerated in Japan.

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