by Sunny Hundal

Thinking about going to Hyde Park for a kickabout this summer? You may have to cough-up upto £30 an hour just to play football.

In yet another example of public spaces being privatised, Royal Parks have handed over control of Hyde Park’s old football pitches to a private company Will to Win.

Furthermore, Royal Parks admitted to this blog that there was no public consultation on the decision. Regular users of the pitches say they weren’t even informed of the changes until very recently.

Now a campaign is calling on Royal Parks to stop Hyde Park from charging people to play sport. It was launched after a charity softball league, which had been using the disused pitches for over a year, were abruptly asked to pay.

One of the campaigners told Liberal Conspiracy that they were not given any notice that the charge was being put in place.

Royal Parks sent us a statement on the matter:

As of March 2013 park users wishing to undertake formal sport in The Football Pitch area in Hyde Park have to book and pay a small fee. Charging allows The Royal Parks to manage bookings and ensure fair usage with the income generated going back into maintaining and improving the area. The vast majority of Hyde Park remains open and free to access for informal games and sporting activity. The Royal Parks are popular locations for free outdoor fitness and wellbeing and are enjoyed by millions of visitors each year.

Campaigners say the pitch in question (which is the part near Royal Albert Hall) hasn’t even been refurbished or maintained like other parts of Hyde Park.

The Royal Parks spokeswoman admitted that the pitches had not been improved on since Will-to-Win took over that part of the park.

After our enquiries, Royal Parks sent out a press release yesterday announcing charges for playing spot on the Old Football Pitch at Hyde Park.

It said:

Anyone wishing to hold organised leagues, matches and events in the Old Football Pitch area are being advised to book in advance and pay a small fee to secure a suitable area in which to play.

Royal Parks say the decision to charge was made due to a funding shortfall due to government budget cuts.

“What happened to the Olympics legacy?” – our campaigner from the petition asked. What indeed.

Sign the petition from here