Neighbours of a beautiful field are “furious” after solicitors working for a charity closely linked with Harrow School have demanded they stop using it.
Home owners on Kingsfield Road, Harrow on the Hill , were shocked to find a notice put up by Harrow Council last week saying that John Lyon’s Charity who own Churchfields which the council leases from them have insisted the authority install a gate restricting public access.
Lee Rope, a 38-year-old administrator for a central London college who lives on the road said: “Everyone on this road uses the park for leisure and it has beautiful views of the hill, but it is also our quickest route to St Mary’s church and Harrow-on-the-Hill station.
“For us to not be able to use it and to be blocked off completely is not only inconvenient, but it is also very odd that it is all being done so quickly.
“The council have explained that they have to install a gate by August 26 else their lease with John Lyon will be terminated.
“It has left some people quite furious.”
The council last renewed its lease for the land in 1992, with the lease expiring in two years.
Mark Mills of the Harrow Hill Trust said: “We are upset with the way in which this has been handled.
“For people living nearby to find out with only a matter of days notice that they cannot use their local field is very sad.
“We have written to the council about this issue, and also to John Lyon’s Charity, because it is important to clarify what is going on.
“As you can imagine, all sorts of rumours are going around.”
Churchfields is accessible via other roads however, leaving some confusion as to why the Kingsfield Road entrance has been singled out.
When the council were informed by the trustees of John Lyon’s Charity that they must install a gate as per the rules of a 40-year-old lease, the council asked for more time to do so in order to better clarify the situation, however their appeal for an extension to the August 26 deadline was rejected.
getwestlondon has contacted John Lyon's Charity for comment.
