Story & photos: Abid Hussain
The plan to demolish the Pavilion building in Osgathorpe Park was on the agenda at the Area Panel meeting that took place on Thursday 24th May 2007 at The Furnival on Verdon Street.
Over 40 people turned up to hear the future of the Pavilion, including many young people, workers and committee members from the Firvale Youth Project (FYP), Burngreave Youth Council, Elaine Virgo and Islam Khan from Sheffield Futures and members of the public. We saw a presentation from FYP, users of the Pavilion, and heard strong positive comments from the people who were there to oppose the demolition of the Pavilion.
The proposal to demolish the Pavilion was suggested by the architects for Sheffield City Council. Friends of Osgathorpe Park, who did not attend the meeting, provided a lengthy report strongly supporting the proposal which stated that: “The Pavilion attracts antisocial behaviour. Its shelter provides a haven for drug dealing/using, prostitution and drinking”. However, these views were not accepted by the majority of members of the public in the meeting, including Burngreave Youth Council members, Maxwell Ayamba from SHEBEEN, Irshad Akbar from Pakistan Muslim Centre, Omer Mohammed from Youth Offending Team and the Police.
In response to claims of Anti social behaviour at the Pavilion; Burngreave Youth Council said:
“Do we have ASBO’s? NO!” “Are we anti-social? NO!”
Ibrar asked Inspector Jon Ekwibiri if prostitution and drug dealing were an issue in the park;
“It’s not on our radar, no major problems”.
When asked if the Pavilion should be demolished, the meeting shouted; “No”! Councillors Ibrar Hussain and Steve Jones said;
“It won’t be demolished, we want to defend it”.
Following the meeting, Mohammed Ali from FYP said:
“Now we have a fantastic opportunity for all members of the community to work together with the Council and Friends of Osgathorpe Park to develop Osgathorpe Park and the Pavilion into a centre with excellent sport and youth facilities.”.
