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Peckham Rye Common central area: Changing facilities and children's provision, Public Consultation


I love Peckham Rye Common and Park. Whether it's a for a jog or a stroll with family both the Common and Park are beautiful in all seasons. The wonderful show of autumn colours over the last few weeks has been brilliant.

Readers may know that for some time there have been various proposals floating around about the improvement and possible expansion of facilities on the Common and possibly also in the Park.

The One O'Clock Club is currently housed in the old PoW hut and, although a fascinating historical relic, £200K of funding has now been secured to build a much needed new centre. Hopefully a further £200K will be secured in the coming weeks to ensure the best possible facilities are built. Further funding is available for a natural play facility which will include a water play area.

Although funding has not been secured for new changing room facilities both on the Common and at Homestall Road these are being planned.

Where do you think these facilities will be best located? All near the cafe or spread out? Would you prefer larger facilities than currently available should planning permission be secured - the One O'Clock Club for example is immensely popular? How should the architects and council draw up plans for all the facilities even without funding being secured for all? What can be done about the car park and bin area which is a bit ugly?

If you want your say you can meet with the council officers and the local architects, Eger Architects based in Camberwell, this Wednesday 11 November at the cafe (I'll post the time as soon as I've confirmed it). This is the very start of the consultation so there are no plans to see yet - they really want to hear your thoughts and ideas before they go any further. We met with them this week alongside Friends of Peckham Rye Park, the One O'Clock Club and the various sports clubs. There isn't a huge amount to report at this stage except to say get involved this Wednesday and hopefully the initial drawings, expected in about three weeks time, will reflect the meeting last week and all the comments made on Wednesday.

In terms of a timetable after that, a presentation of a 'Preferred option development plan' will be made in December, this will include plans for all the facilities even though funding won't be secured by then. These plans are then expected to be finalised in January. After that work will focus on the detailed designs for the One O'Clock and natural play area, these will go out to tender, and should be completed by March 2011.

STOP PRESS!

We've now recieved the following e-mail from a Southwark Council officer:

"Dear All

This email is to inform you that the consultation event scheduled 11th November has been postponed and will be held towards the end of November. This is to allow the architects time to work on sketch proposals and present them at the next event. I will have confirmation of the next consultation event by late next week."

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