Lib Dem cuts could mean loss of Peckham Rye's full-time Park Manager

At a recent Friends of Peckham Rye Park (FoPRP) meeting Southwark council’s Parks and Open Spaces Manager and the council’s Head of Public Realm (environmental services) attended to speak about proposed changes to park management.

Just a few weeks ago the Lib Dems voted through a cut to the parks maintenance budget – something Labour opposed. Lo and behold the consequences of this are already becoming clear with the council officers beginning to consult on cuts to park management.

One proposal is to cut the number of park managers. There are currently four park managers, for Peckham Rye, Dulwich Park, Burgess Park and Southwark Park, but it is proposed to reduce this to two - one in the north for Southwark and Burgess, and one in the south for Dulwich and Peckham Rye.

Park managers already carry out their jobs under very testing circumstances. We believe that managing Peckham Rye Park and Common is a full-time job and Peckham Rye Labour will be making this view clear as part of the consultation (along with many other people I suspect). We hope the council will listen to the views of local people, but we are deeply concerned that this cut will go ahead.

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Know Your Ryes!

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