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Friends of Roundhay Park: Group accuse council of selling family silver
Leisure chiefs have been accused of "selling off the family silver" to fund improvements at Roundhay Park Mansion.
The Friends of Roundhay Park are calling for the city council to stop the sale of Nos 1-7 Park Cottages and the historic Carriage House which is a listed building.
They were shocked to learn that the decision to sell these buildings was taken as long ago as March 2004 and they were not told.
The projected receipts from the sales have already been swallowed up by work on the Mansion.
Jon Vogler, who organises working parties in the park, raged against the economic management of the council.
"Leeds has been on such a roll for 10 years that we should not be in such a position that we have to sell the family silver," he said.
"The first we heard about the proposal to sell these buildings was at our March meeting."
He proposed a plan which was approved by the annual meeting to:
* Stop the sale of the properties;
* Insist on no disposals without consultation:
* Work up alternative proposals for the buildings.
Mr Vogler suggested the Park Cottages – which have been used by parks department staff – could be turned into artists' or musicians' workshops and studios; and the Carriage House could become a gallery for their work.
Visitors to the park would buy their products and give them an income. But Martin Farrington, acting chief recreation officer, told the annual meeting: "The level of rents we could charge would not justify the capital investment."
Mr Farrington said lottery money earmarked for the Carriage House had been diverted to create a Visitor Centre at Roundhay Park Mansion.
"If the council decided not to sell these properties," he went on, "then other schemes in the city would have to be deleted."
Roundhay councillor Paul Wadsworth said: "We are selling resources that are not being used to fund one – the Mansion – that is being used."
One woman asked: "What happened to the money the council got from the sale of the airport?"
Anne Hepworth said: "Why can't we just have another pop concert? That would bring in enough revenue to maintain the Carriage House."
One member of the Friends said after the meeting: "If this was Sheffield, the council would find the money."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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