The park is still being well used, particularly by several
girls and boys football teams based in Southwood Park Pavilion – they are called
London Girls FC. They train in the week and play at weekends. We also have quite
a lot of dog walkers, and a variety of dogs, using the park. It is good to see that
most dog owners act responsibly, follow the Greenwich Dog Walkers Code, and clear
up any mess caused by their animals. However, as in most things, some walkers are
slack and do not clear up after their pets. There are also quite a lot of walkers
using the Green Chain Walk, plus people with their children who use the well maintained
children's play area. The park is regularly patrolled by the Police Community Support
Officers which is good to see. - Please report any problems to the Home Beat Officer
on 0208 721 2736.
The local schools, including St Olaves, are using the
front field and partake in regular cricket, football, rugby and athletics classes.
It is good to see young children being taught in a professional and caring manner,
and using their local park so well.
Well, we are still going, but our five point plan is not
progressing very quickly. However, we continue to work very closely with Greenwich
Council Parks and Leisure Department, and they respond quickly to our park related
requests for assistance etc. Requests to have pathways cleared and over hanging
hedges trimmed are acted upon, but not so quickly. However, anyone who feels that
there is a need for work to be done in the park, can contact the relevant Department
on 0208 856 0100. The “Trim Trail” in the park, to encourage people to keep fit,
and which will need expert planning and funding is now being pursued with the appropriate
experts using a special grant from the Olympic Fund. It is proposed to locate this
facility near the children's play area, and hopefully this will be completed in
the near future.
A speed bump has been installed at the pavilion entrance
to the park following several incidents between cars leaving the park and people/cyclists
using the pavement in Southwood Road.
The water fountain at the library end of the park, together
with the unstable crazy paving, have been removed. It was hoped to turn this area
into a garden with shrubs and flowers, but unfortunately it has been grassed over.
It is still hoped to include two or three more seats in this area, and funding is
being sought. A further idea is to have a “River of Flowers” along the north side
of the park and the railway boundary; this is being pursued with the Council and
hopefully will bring a real splash of colour to the park in terms of meadow flowers.
The reopening of the pathway by the library leading down
to the railway station is still ongoing; it is hoped that the use of this facility
would allow people to enjoy the park more. Most football games are currently taking
place on the back field due to poor drainage on the main pitches. Liaison is taking
place with Thames Water and the Council to try and resolve this issue.
The Club Pavilion and the Storage Portacabin have been
vandalised with graffiti on several occasions, and club officials/council workers
have been doing their best to rectify the damage. Concern has also been expressed
that someone using a quad bike has caused a lot of damage to the back field, and
the ensuing deep ruts are dangerous for walkers and football players.
At long last we have a green chain sign at the top entrance
to the park. Unfortunately, it is only printed on the pavement side, and efforts
are being made to correct this. Signs detailing the opening/closing hours of the
park have also been placed at both entrances to the park.
The Friends of Southwood Park are a voluntary group who
have the interest of New Eltham, and particularly Southwood Park, at heart. The
group meets at 7.30pm on the last Wednesday of each month in the Sports Pavilion.
Anyone who has an interest in Southwood Park and would like to bring fresh and original
ideas on ways of using the park/ encouraging the people of New Eltham to use their
park, is welcome to come along to the meetings.