Labour’s recent proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee in the planning process raise serious concerns for the future of grassroots sport across the country. For many years, Sport England has played a vital role in protecting playing fields and community sports facilities, helping to ensure that development is balanced with the needs of local communities.
These safeguards have protected thousands of pitches and green spaces, while still allowing appropriate development to go ahead. Removing them risks putting local sports clubs, school facilities and community spaces at risk and once these spaces are lost, they are lost forever.
This comes alongside wider concerns about reductions in funding for sport and physical activity. In the previous Parliament, the Conservative Government invested more than £1 billion in grassroots, school and elite sport, recognising the importance of sport for health, wellbeing and community cohesion. It is vital that this progress is not undermined.
I was pleased to meet with Jill Scott MBE in Parliament, former Lioness and President of Fields in Trust, to discuss these issues in more detail. Jill and many others across the sporting world have rightly raised concerns about the potential impact of these changes, particularly on grassroots sport and opportunities for young people.
Playing fields and green spaces are not just pieces of land - they are central to community life, supporting physical and mental health, bringing people together, and providing opportunities for future generations.
I will continue to press the Government on these proposals and stand up for the protection of grassroots sport and the community spaces that so many people rely on.
