With the world on fire – not to mention large swathes of the North Sea – it is understandable that some of the scurvier implications of Angela Rayner’s stonking planning bill, aimed at streamlining all development, from roads and power stations to housing, might have gone unnoticed. Which is a pity, because it’s not very pretty. To make sure everything goes swimmingly, it seems that those objecting to any developments too much will have to keep their trap shut. Among the bodies that won’t have to be consulted any more is an outfit called Sport England, which may have its faults but is dedicated to promoting grassroots sport.
Now, of course we need housing – and houses have to go somewhere, though a bigger reason for the housing crisis seems to me to be occupancy rather than not enough houses. Anyway, I doubt whether pushing Sport England aside will do much except reduce the number of playing fields. Rayner appears to be incensed because plans for flats in Bradford were delayed over fears that they could be hit by balls from a nearby cricket club. The government says it is reducing bureaucracy, but in nearly 99 per cent of planning cases in which Sport England was involved, the organisation responded within the 21 days needed, and in nearly three quarters of the cases where it raised objections, the development went ahead but with better provision for young people to be active.
I am sure all this stuff was focus-grouped to hell by the government, but if they have found anyone anywhere who has said ‘I don’t like playing fields’, well, my name is Angela Rayner. Because that is something no one has said, ever. More likely this is a huge political misstep by the government, and not the first.
There is a definite idea in the public consciousness that playing fields are good, and selling them off is bad. And is it such a good look for a Labour government to make it so much easier to flog off the places where the children of their ‘working people’ can play?
Elite athletes of course will always be able to practise their sport, but even elite athletes have to start somewhere. And meanwhile the children at private schools will have their rugby and cricket pitches, as good as ever. The playing fields of Eton will always be there. For everyone else, not so much.
Is it a good look for Labour to make it so easy to flog off places where the children of ‘working people’ play?
One bunch of young men who never had need of a decent playing field are the Formula 1 grand prix drivers who accelerate off for the new season in Melbourne this weekend. There are four teams that can win –Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes – and that’s three more than there sometimes is, so this could be a better year than usual. Lewis Hamilton could struggle a bit early on in the racing red of Ferrari: Charles Leclerc is quick and established and changing teams is usually a challenge. McLaren will be right there but they might have a job keeping Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from fighting each other. They are both super fast and getting on well at the moment. How long that lasts if they start taking points off each other or – perish the thought – crash into each other remains to be seen.
George Russell starts the season as team leader at Mercedes and seems the complete package, but though he looks polished he can start to flap if things don’t go his way. His new teammate, teenager Kimi Antonelli, is a special talent. He could get closer and closer to Russell as the season goes on. How Russell copes will be key. For Red Bull, Max Verstappen has the Kiwi Liam Lawson as his new teammate. Lawson’s job will be to support Verstappen all the way. There is no doubt who is the No. 1 in this team, and that is probably why Verstappen will be champion yet again.
Comments
Comment section temporarily unavailable for maintenance.