Campaigners and council clash over new Spurs training ground
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00:00This green space behind me is White Webs Park in Enfield in North London.
00:04It has been the topic of controversy locally as Tottenham Hotspur will take part of this park
00:09and turn it into a training facility for its women's football team.
00:12I'm not very happy at all.
00:14I see the decision as no benefits the residents of Enfield.
00:17You know if it's housing I kind of understand that houses do need to be built but this
00:21isn't necessity.
00:22And part of the argument that Spurs are making is that they want to invest in women's football
00:25and this space would be a great way to do it.
00:28I think women's football is a really great thing and I'm excited to see it develop and
00:31everything but I do feel strongly that this is the wrong place.
00:34Council documents show that the site will restore around 23 hectares of historic parkland.
00:39The training complex will also include a section that will preserve a woodland area
00:43and 2,000 trees will be planted at the site.
00:45Spurs' training ground is just outside this park so you can understand why they'd feel
00:49it was a natural extension to move into this green space.
00:52But opponents of this decision have argued that this isn't the right space to do it.
00:56They've argued that there's a more appropriate space for Spurs to take on though it is over
01:00the road and more expensive.
01:02Local resident Sean Wilkinson took me around the park to explain some of his concerns.
01:07This is the area where they're going to be putting the astroturf.
01:10There's going to be one astroturf pitch somewhere in this area here.
01:14There'll also be lighting for these pitches and we've noticed that the lights for the
01:22men's ground can be seen about two kilometres away up in the conservation area by Clay Hill.
01:28So the lights here are probably the same.
01:30We'll add light pollution to the sky which might interfere with the bats and the birds.
01:36This is the area where they're going to be building the pitches
01:39and while they say they're making efforts to preserve a lot of the trees,
01:46some rather beautiful trees will be coming down including that chestnut which is just over there.
01:51I walked around the park to talk to members of the community,
01:53find out more about what's going on here and how people feel.
01:56I am really disgusted that Enfield Council could think that they can take this park away
02:03from the public who enjoy it so much and give it to a multi-million pound football club.
02:09Bit of a shame because it's been here an awful long time and we moved in about six months ago
02:14and it seems we're going to lose quite a big patch of land already which is a bit of a shame.
02:19Benefit is entirely with Tottenham Hotspur, again very very cheaply done.
02:26If they wanted the land the other side of the road it would have cost them five times the amount.
02:30I mean this is part of Enfield's, London Borough of Enfield,
02:34one of the greenest boroughs considered around the London area
02:39and I think the councillors should let us keep it for the public and for dog walking.
02:44It's just upsetting, there's other bits of land, there's farmers that want to sell.
02:47It's just very disappointing.
02:49A Spurs spokesperson has told the Standard
02:51our proposals will secure its future with the green use and ensure it remains an open
02:55and inclusive place for local people to enjoy.
02:58We shall improve local access to nature and habitats,
03:00provide new facilities for visitors, community groups and sports clubs
03:04and put Enfield on the map as a champion of the women's and girls' game with best-in-class academy.
03:09Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil said
03:11Tottenham Hotspur FC have committed to planting 2,000 trees,
03:14improving biodiversity, repairing footpaths and improving public access within the park.
03:19We believe this project will bring exciting opportunities to Enfield
03:22including job opportunities, apprenticeships and enhanced sports facilities.