Soccer Versus the Environment?

Whitewebbs Park was initially sold to London's Enfield Council almost 100 years ago. The sale was intended to benefit recreation for the public living in the area. Eventually, a golf course (bad move) was put on the site. When the golf course fell into disuse, the park was effectively re-wilded . The area now boasts 80 bird species, 9 species of bats, Great-crested newts and badgers. And these are just the big animal species. The park currently fulfills the recreation needs of substantial numbers of people and helps the environment. The High Court have now ruled against a challenge to Enfield Council's plan to lease half the park (for large amounts of cash) to Tottenham Hotspur football club. The club want to build a new women's and girl's academy on this green-belt site (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/25/court-bid-to-prevent-spurs-leasing-rewilded-london-golf-course-fails). The folk challenging the Enfield Council plan fear that public parks across London are put at risk by this High Court ruling. Councils want more money for their services and it's important to increase female exercise. Having said that, the academy would have very limited public access and valuable environments would disappear. Surely, Tottenham Hotspur can afford to find space for an academy on a 'brownfield' site? This looks like environmental vandalism!