Agenda item

To receive and consider any petitions for which notice has been provided under Standing Order 66.

Members are asked to note that the following petition is due to be presented at the meeting:

(a)    Opposition to change of use of tennis courts in Preston Park to a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)

The supporting details on the petition have been attached, for reference.

5.1   Installation of MUGA in Preston Park

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Angela Barrett (as lead petitioner) to the meeting, who he advised was attending to present a petition regarding the location of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) in Preston Park.

In thanking the Leader of the Council for the opportunity to present the petition, Angela Barrett began by explaining its purpose in calling on the Council to reconsider the current location for the proposed installation of a MUGA on active tennis courts to an alternate site within the small meadow land area of Preston Park.  Following its submission and subsequent engagement with officers and local ward councillors regarding their concerns, the petitioners had welcomed confirmation provided by the Parks Service that the proposed use of the tennis court site for the MUGA was no longer being considered, which it was felt reflected the positive work and engagement process undertaken.  The previous and current local ward councillors were also thanked for their support and engagement, with it hoped the concerns raised and alternative proposals identified could lead to development of a more appropriate scheme.

In outlining the initial concerns of the petitioners, Angela Barrett advised that whilst supportive of the provision of better facilities for young people in the Park the local residents she represented had been concerned about identification of the original tennis court site for the MUGA given its close proximity to a number of adjacent residential properties and associated risk of ongoing noise and nuisance from a wider use, which would be different in nature to tennis.  Further adding to these concerns was the secluded location of the site, which it was felt had the potential to attract Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) leading to issues around safety and inclusion, particularly for girls and younger users.  Angela Barrett advised these had also been supported as concerns by the Brent Parks Forum and Preston Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) in relation to the current proposed location of the site.

Given the concerns raised, local residents in support of the petition had therefore worked with the Parks Team and local ward councillors to identify a new site which was felt to be more suitable for a MUGA in an area adjacent to the existing children’s playground in the centre of the park, which it was felt would create a more unified and safe family activity hub.  The site identified had been within the existing meadow land area, which unfortunately had not fully established itself and was consequently viewed to be of low ecological value.  Residents and officers had also recognised the potential for a rain garden and pollinator planting to be incorporated into the design without significant extra cost, which it was pointed out would help to manage drainage whilst also improving the biodiversity and appearance of the space and which could be used as an additional community asset that residents could help care for.  In considering the design options for the MUGA, the petitioners were also keen for Cabinet to consider a more flexible, grass-based alternative to a traditional tarmac type MUGA, such as a mini-grass football pitch or natural adventure playground, referencing research that showed traditional MUGAs excluded girls, with over 90% of users being male.

Whilst recognising the associated cost and resource implications, Angela Barrett advised that the petitioners felt the proposals they had put forward regarding siting and design would lead to a better space and facility that more people could support and utilise and which would avoid future problems in relation to noise and potential ASB.  The opportunity was also taken to highlight the positive and constructive engagement of residents in the process, with South Kenton & Preston Park Residents Association, the Brent Parks Forum and the Preston Ward SNT all supportive of the approach in seeking to find an alternative location for the MUGA that was felt to be safe, well-integrated and worked for the community.

The opportunity was also taken to highlight lessons learnt from the engagement process, with Angela Barrett referring to a supporting background paper that had been circulated to all members of Cabinet regarding improvements it was felt could be made to the community engagement process involving future Parks projects.

In concluding presentation of the petition, Angela Barrett felt that the scheme was now in a more positive position, moving away from a site that was not considered suitable by a number of local residents and other stakeholders to an alternative which it was felt would provide better access and it was hoped Cabinet would support, recognising the work and engagement undertaken to produce a thoughtful design that would deliver enhancements to the park and benefit everyone.

Having thanked Angela Barrett for presenting the petition the Leader then invited Soulla Kwong to speak, who he advised had requested to address the meeting on behalf of Friends of Preston Park to outline their support for the MUGA proposal based on the current site identified utilising the existing tennis courts.

In opening her comments, Soulla Kwong began by advising of the background to formation of the Friends of Preston Park as a community group of local residents and volunteers seeking to maintain, protect and care for Preston Park and its environment.  This work had involved engagement with pupils across local schools regarding the measures they felt could be taken in support of maintaining the park whilst also providing the type of facilities that would encourage greater use and best serve their needs.  Cabinet was advised that it had been the feedback provided from this process which had led to development of the initial proposals for the MUGA alongside the provision of wider facilities such picnic and chess tables, table tennis and more trees.

Details were then provided on the way in which these proposals had been shared with local residents, which had included meetings held in Preston Park with Brent’s Parks Team to which local ward councillors, residents, and local schools had been invited to attend.  This had then led to the formation of a Committee to support fundraising efforts and development of the plans, which Cabinet was advised had also been successful in attracting Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding.  Development of the proposals had also been supported by an original petition in 2024 seeking support for the original site identified, based on what were regarded to be the largely disused nature of the tennis courts and their main use for football by adults.  The site was therefore felt to be an ideal location for the MUGA, given the existing surface, which it was also pointed out would support the installation of a low-level noise surface to avoid disturbance to adjacent properties at lower cost.  Confirmation was also provided that the original proposal had not involved the installation of flood lights with a closing time of 9pm in summer alongside the provision of trees and a high net around the MUGA to further prevent noise transmission.  It was pointed out, this proposal had been further supported by a subsequent petition in May 2026 which, taken together with the original petition, had attracted over 800 signatories.

Since the initial proposals had been identified, the Friend of Preston Park had become aware of concerns being raised by some residents living adjacent to the proposed site relating to noise nuisance and ASB affecting their properties, which had spread some fear and doubt in the neighbourhood and led to the petition which had been presented at the meeting seeking to use the meadow land in the Park as an alternative location for the MUGA.  Having considered the alternative proposal, Soulla Kwong advised that the Friends of Preston Park remained opposed to the loss of green space within Preston Park highlighting the small nature of its footprint and their aim to preserve the green space available within the wildflower meadow and community gardens as a space supporting biodiversity and valued by park users and local residents alike.

In highlighting the damage being created more widely to the environment, Soulla Kwong also felt it important to remind members that the site originally proposed had been based on a disused tennis court area which had fallen in disrepair and was already attracting alternative use as a football pitch.  The opportunity was also taken to outline the wide engagement undertaken by Friends of Preston Park on the proposals, including local shop owners, schools, residents who had all been supportive of the initial proposal to locate the MUGA on the misused tennis courts.  In summing up, she hoped Cabinet would therefore support the Friends of Preston Park in seeking to preserve green space within the park and help sustain the environment for future generations recognising the need to enhance natural sustainability in the area.

In thanking both speakers for their presentations, the Leader then invited Councillor Promise Knight (as Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets, Transport and Public Realm) to respond to the points raised.

Having thanked Angela Barrett and Soulla Kwong, along with their supporters, for attending Cabinet to ensure the views of residents were represented Councillor Knight felt it important to start by recognising the concerns raised regarding the proposed conversion of one of the tennis courts in Preston Park to a MUGA. She advised that the scheme had originally emerged through the NCIL process, recognising the keen support expressed by local school children and residents for the scheme with the intention to enhance the facilities available in the park for young people.

In addressing the speakers, an assurance was provided that the concerns raised regarding noise levels and the enjoyment of homes and gardens by those residents whose homes backed onto the initial proposed site had, however, also been recognised. Since the petition had been submitted, this had resulted in further discussions being undertaken with residents, officers, ward councillors and Friends of Preston Park to better understand the concerns raised. In considering the feedback from all parties, Councillor Knight confirmed that the Parks Service would therefore continue to review all options outlined to assess what would be possible moving forward.  It was hoped this would provide residents with the necessary assurance that the Council was continuing to listen to all affected parties with all residents thanked for the time taken to engage constructively in the ongoing discussion.

As a final contribution and in summing up, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) confirmed that the Council remained committed to working with residents in order to achieve a positive outcome for the local community and to continuing the positive engagement with residents in an effort to find a way forward.