What is this land for?

 

The purpose comes first ​

 

Before considering any proposal, it is important to understand why this land exists as a charitable trust.The Farnham Park Sports Fields Charitable Trust was established by the Eton Rural District Council Act 1971.

 

The Act states that the land is to be held upon trust for sport and recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of the former Eton Rural District and adjoining areas.

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It then goes on to provide an important safeguard:

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The Council shall not develop any of the land except in accordance with its purpose.

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This means that the purpose of the Trust is not merely descriptive. It is the standard against which any future development should be judged.

 

Who should benefit?

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The Trust was not established for the benefit of a particular organisation or sporting discipline. It was established to provide sport and recreation for the defined class of beneficiaries.

 

The important question is therefore not whether football is a worthwhile activity. In fact there are numerous football pitches already on the Playing Field side of the land.

 

The important question is whether the proposed use continues to fulfil the charitable purpose of the Trust for the beneficiaries as a whole.

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If access to much of the land becomes dependent on belonging to a particular organisation, does that continue to fulfil the charitable purpose of providing sport and recreation for the Trust's beneficiaries?

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A proposal should begin here

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Before asking whether a proposal is financially attractive, environmentally acceptable or capable of obtaining planning permission, one question comes first:

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Does it fulfil the charitable purpose for which this land is held?​