Confirmation of the sale of Udney Park playing fields was confirmed in the local press igniting hopes that the fields can be returned to community use https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2023/07/06/teddingtons-udney-park-playing-fields-back-on-the-market/
The Foundation have contacted the representatives of Mr Wu in order to put in motion an offer for the purchase of the playing fields. The site is designated as an ACV, and is currently under a moratorium which prevents the sale of the land to anyone other than a Community Interest Company (CIC) for a six month period.
A meeting has been held with Munira Wilson, local councillors, and representatives of both the Udney Park Trust, and the Teddington Society where full support for the Foundation’s bid was reaffirmed.
For the second time Munira Wilson has raised the issue of Udney Park in parliament, so hopefully this will help to concentrate everyone’s minds on agreeing a sale sooner rather than later https://youtu.be/xsAvOgL-r6I
The levelling up minister has offered to meet with Munira to explore possible Government assistance in the acquisition of the fields via the Community Ownership Fund. This will be of enormous help with so much capital also required to restore the pavilion and bring the playing areas back up to standard.
There will be regular updates via this website
Local MP, Munira Wilson, gave an impassioned speech emphasising the importance of retaining playing fields for community use rather than allowing them to be land banked by developers.
I thought that I ought to update everyone as the latest moratorium period under the ACV is about to expire. At this point Mr Wu can market the site again to commercial bidders. Before the moratorium period he attempted to sell the site over a twelve-month period and attracted an offer from a single developer called Mr Williams. This bid later evaporated. No doubt Mr Wu hopes for more meaningful interest the next time around.
The Foundation has received welcome support from the football community as the statements below -
Lee Doyle, CEO of Brentford FC CST
"The Brentford FC Community Sports Trust aims to deliver exciting, progressive and socially inclusive multi-sports participation, coach education and facility development programmes, enabling participants, coaches and volunteers to realise their potential through community sport. The Trust supports the aims of the Udney Park Community Fields Foundation to buy and run these precious playing fields in Teddington"
