Peckham Rye Labour

We're delighted that work on the children's playground by the One O'Clock Club on Peckham Rye is about to start. Delivering this was one of our election pledges so it's great it should be all complete by 31 March, 11 months after becoming councillors. This was a project that the Lib Dems and Tories failed to deliver whilst they were running the council and which was then at risk as the new Coalition Government clawed back some of the 'playbuilder' money (a Labour Government initiative) secured to deliver the scheme. It's a bit difficult to provide a picture of the full plans but here goes - And you can download the full details (better quality/includes pictures of various bits of play equipment) by clicking on the picture or here . The idea is that the playground is more 'natural' than the current one - a bit like the new Goose Green playground. Hopefully this is just the start of various improvements planned for Peckham Rye Common and Park.

For people concerned about the new natural play area, the new One O'Clock Club and changing facilities on Peckham Rye, it's worth taking a look at the respective Southwark Labour and Lib Dem manifestos and making a comparison. The plans for new facilities have crept along at a snails pace under the Lib Dem-Tory council, leaving residents of Peckham Rye wondering what was happening and if the scheme was at risk. As local Labour candidates we have ensured that the Southwark Labour's manifesto included a commitment to "turn the plans for a new One O'Clock Club and changing rooms and pitches for local teams into a reality." This means that if residents of Southwark elect a Labour council, we guarantee that this too-long-delayed redevelopment with actually be delivered. So when the the Southwark Lib Dem Manifesto was published the other day, I was extremely surprised to see there was no reference whatsoever to the new One O'Clock Club, the natural play area or...

(Click on the picture for a larger version) For those following the plans for a new One O'Clock Club on Peckham Rye Common, and new changing facilities and pitches on Peckham Rye and Homestall Road, above is an amended plan of 'Option 2' which proved the more popular scheme with residents. At the last consultation meeting I attended, the majority of people I spoke with favoured this option, though I know many involved with the One O'Clock Club and local sports teams have reached the stage where they just want these new facilities delivered! Option 2 will locate the new changing facilities in the parks maintainance area - there is more space here than is currently needed for the maintainance team. It will also see a new 'green' car park on the silt mound and the current car park will return to being part of the Common. Amendments to the original Option 2 are a 'green' access road to the cafe and a footpath has been reinstated against the park boundary nea...