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Peckham Rye Park Update

Last Wednesday I went along to the Friends of Peckham Rye Park Meeting at the cafe on the park. I'd strongly recommend getting involved in this group to anyone interested in issues relating to the park. Meetings are very relaxed and informal and a great way of finding out what is going on.

At the meeting last week we were given an update from Council officers on the planned development of new facilities including the One O'Clock Club and changing facilities for local sports teams. The officer addressing the meeting said that he hoped work would start on the new developments in the next few months, subject to some final consultation on the specifics of the plans. I'll keep you posted on this issue as it develops.

Many of you, especially those who attend Community Council meetings, will have been following the plans for the new facilities for some time. I know there were differing opinions about how the various facilities should be delivered, but I think that now a decision has been made, the council must make sure it delivers on what it has promised to local residents and groups.

We were also briefed by the park manager on recent developments, which included news of a spate of thefts of park benches. There is some suspicion that the thefts were carried out to order, but police have not been able to identify the perpetrators thus far. Enquiries are ongoing. Personally, I was shocked that someone would steal a park bench and really disappointed to hear that the thefts would put a significant hole in the park budget.

Anyway, if anybody lives locally and is interested in joining the friends of Peckham Rye Park, their website is here: http://www.foprp.org.uk/

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