Hackney Council Approve Their Own Plans

As expected, Hackney Council voted to approve their own application for two car parks and a pavilion building on Hackney Marshes at tonight’s planning committee meeting. Cllr McShane’s view that the ‘primary purpose’ of the marshes is for it to be utilised as a sporting ‘facility’ unfairly disadvantages local people enjoying the marshes freely for a range of pass times and its value for nature. No-one could reasonably dispute the need for improved sporting facilities, however with these plans the Council will unnecessarily destroy open green space. The Council’s agenda seems to be to commercialise our green spaces with large private facilities, including sprawling car parks (which will remain mostly unused), in the name of health and sport.