The Save Orrell Park campaign group has hit back after plans were released this week by Sefton Council to turn a section of the park into state-of-the-art 3G football pitches.
The proposal which has been labelled the Orrell Park "masterplan" was released as part of a public consultation to encourage the public to come forward and share their thoughts about the development. The plans have been backed by former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher which if successful would be run by his JC23 Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to support disadvantaged children in the city.
Since the announcement of the "masterplan", the campaign group has raised their concerns over the future of the park. Member of the group John McDonald said: "It is quite clear that is it not a consultation to decide whether or not they should be putting this 3G football pitch on this greenfield.
READ MORE : Photos of controversial park plan backed by Jamie Carragher released
"It's a consultation to try and justify them actually doing it."
One particular point of contention for the group is the Council's plans to renovate the pavilion which would be located next to 3G pitches. John said that residents have been asking Sefton Council for several years to improve the pavilion.
Speaking to the ECHO John said: "The revised plan, that very pretty green plan with all these sparkling trinkets plastered round the place suggesting they are putting all sorts on the field. When we know perfectly well that they have no money to do any of this all they have the money for is the pitch. That is why they want this pitch on the greenfield because there is money being thrown at it and it's unlikely they would be trying to install it if there weren't getting a huge grant from the FA.
"They have quite specifically said but you can only find it online that the pavilion is not part of the consultation which is the one thing the community has been after the Council for. We have been asking for years to get the pavilion renovated and into community use."
Last year neighbours formed a picket line to prevent construction vehicles from starting work on parkland earmarked to be turned into 3G football pitches. The group has raised their concerns that if plans for the park go ahead there will be a lack of green space in Bootle.
John said: "There is nowhere on any of their plans that are saying that they are going to put these other facilities in. The whole thing is trying to seduce people into saying "yeah it is a great idea let's go for it" when the only thing they have the funding for the only thing they have promised is this 3G pitch which everybody is against."
A spokesperson from Sefton Council said: “The Council has commissioned leading specialist management consultancy FMG Consulting to carry out an independent consultation. The consultation is an opportunity for people to provide their views on the community-inspired masterplan to transform Orrell Mount Park, so we would encourage any individuals or groups to visit www.sefton.gov.uk/orrellmount where they can find all the background information and let us have their feedback.”
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