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Friends of Archbishops Park AGM

from Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk)

Friends of Archbishops Park AGM

Dear all

Please find below an announcement of the Friend of Archbishops Park AGM and a copy of their newsletter. Please direct any queries or comments directly to Sarah O'Connell, Chair, Friends of Archbishops Park, 5 Pratt Walk, SE11 6AR, e-mail sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk, tel 020 7587 1472.

Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler

Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone:  020 7926 8295
fax:  020 7926 2778
e-mail:  ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk

20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ

Friends of Archbishops Park
AGM
7.00pm
Monday 30 June
China Walk Tenants Hall, Lambeth Walk (Third on left from Lambeth Road)

Lambeth Parks want to take out the playground - Health and Safety!

Developers want to build private flats by the park!

Please come, hear what they say, and help us protect your park. .

Friends of Archbishops Park, c/o 5 Pratt Walk, SE11 6AR

Friends of Archbishops Park Newsletter  - June 03

Dates for the diary:

AGM -7pm, Monday 30 June, China Walk Tenants Hall, Lambeth Walk (Third building on left from Lambeth Road).

Archbishop Park Family Fun Day - 1pm to 6pm, Wednesday 30th July

Also:
Football - for children aged 6-16, every Saturday 10-12am
Tennis - all ages. Saturday and Sunday mornings and more. Phone Karel (0781 090192) for details.
This scheme is self financing so the more adults who seek out their old tennis racket and play, the more scope there is to provide local kids with a low cost introduction to the game.

Dancing in Maturity - for the over 50s in the China Walk Hall on Tuesdays at 1.30 pm. (Organised by the China Walk TRA.) 

This year the AGM will be important. There is good news in that both parties, Lambeth and the Church Commissioners seem to be agreed on a new lease of 40 years. Lets get it signed quickly before anyone changes their mind.

The AGM will also be a chance for the Committee to brief on the draft management plan. We needed to resolve the lease issue before final consultation. FofAP are now seeking the money to do this, and to secure the capacity that will allow bids to be prepared for the implementation phase.

A large new development, Founders Place, is proposed for the land north of Archbishops Park, up as far as the Westminster Bridge roundabout. The developers will be at the AGM to explain their ideas. This is a pre-planning consultation and nothing is set in concrete (sorry), so is a good chance to express any concerns about the impact of this development on the park. A copy of their newsletter is enclosed. You should note that private flats are shown directly abutting the park. This land, though currently used as car park, is partly designated for 'park use' in the Lambeth's current unitary development plan. Much of the green space surrounding current buildings, will now be inside courtyards, reducing the amount of green that passers by will see - though, clearly, Carlisle Lane needs improvement. More importantly this and other developments along the Thames are adding to the pressure on the park, yet there is no investment in the park itself. This, obviously, is unsustainable.  The more people who attend the AGM, the stronger our voice. Or respond directly to the developers, copy to your local Councillor.

Jonathon Mears, the North Lambeth Area Parks Officer, will introduce himself. As well as responding to questions on maintenance and management issues, Jonathon will be able to brief us on the new Team Lambeth contract. There are proposals to reduce the hours that ordinary park staff work to 8am-4pm weekdays, with the savings used to employ four park rangers based in Kennington Park. The current staff will lose over-time and thus income, which means that there will be de-skilling in the longer term. Most people use the park after school and at weekends, and staff presence deters vandalism and criminal activity, and makes people feel safer. We are promised that the park rangers will be able to take on an educational function, but with only four staff to cover parks and green spaces throughout Waterloo, Kennington, Vauxhall and Stockwell, it is hard to see the benefits.

Brian Dickins, the new Sports Action Zone manager has asked to say a few words. To reflect the wishes of the main funder in the area, Sports Action Zone is likely to take over community sports provision in the park. FofAP aim to actively support this process and encourage good and accessible provision. Sports Action Zone plan to launch with a Family Fun Day, at 1pm to 6pm on Wednesday 30th July. Details are still being evolved, but this should include 'taster' sessions in cricket (the nets are being repaired), football, netball, athletics, tennis and more. Plus a bouncy castle etc. Then, for the four weeks during August, there will be four 5 day sports courses 10am-3pm, covering netball, tennis, cricket and football. Brian is seeking volunteers to help steward the fun day, and would also welcome help with publicity. So if you have contact with children or young people in the area through a school or youth club and can help publicise the event, or can help on 30 July, could you contact Brian at South Bank Employers Group on 020 7202 6900.

The AGM may also want to confirm the Committee's view of the role of the Friends. Waterloo Community Regeneration Trust are keen that the Group should expand its capacity, build links with other groups in Waterloo and take a more active part in the Environment and other strategies being prepared for the Waterloo area.  On a personal level many of the Committee have found the past three years hard work and we look forward to a new lease and the chance of reverting to a more traditional 'Friends' role. Most of us have small children, work, or both, and many have other commitments within the community.  We have also been concerned from the outset that the future of the park should be based on the needs of all those who use the park or live within its catchment, and not just those in Waterloo. Support for the Committee and our 'park-centred approach' would be very welcome.

Having said the Committee are tired, we are looking for new Committee members, and/or volunteers. You do not need to be able to donate a lot of time, but simply use the park and be able to help make sure that the decisions  we make reflect the needs of park users. That said we are looking for a new Secretary, and someone to take minutes at the AGM.

And finally a big thank you to everyone who has helped us in the past year - a lot of people, you know who you are..........

Sarah O'Connell, Chair, Friends of Archbishops Park, 5 Pratt Walk, SE11 6AR, e-mail sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk, tel 020 7587 1472

(posted 7581 days ago)

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