Sutcliffe Park closure inconveniences local schools

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Aug 2005

Cllr Harry Potter outside Sutcliffe Park Athletics Track, which was closed during the popular summer months by the Labour Council.

The closure of Sutcliffe Park athletics track in June meant uncertainty for local schools, says Cllr Harry Potter (Middle Park & Sutcliffe).

"Many schools use the track for their annual school sports' day. By closing the track for refurbishment in the middle of the school term inconvenienced many school," said Cllr Potter. "Some schools were forced to travel all the way to Erith to find suitable alternative facilities."

"Surely they could have waited until the end of the school term?" commented Cllr Potter.

Despite both an oral and written question from Cllr Potter, the Labour council has so far failed to provide adequate reasons about the timing of the closure, referring to delays in lodging the planning application and securing the funding, both of which were the council's responsibility.