Friends of Southwood Park Report 2009-2010



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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. 

Aims and Objectives

The secretary of the Friends of Southwood Park met with Carol Kenna, Artistic Director of the City Arts and Greenwich Mural Workshop. The object of the meeting was discuss the aims of the Friends of the Park, and funding of those aims.


1. An Entrance Gate to the Forest School Nature Area from Southwood Park. The Forest School is located in the allotments, and is currently totally fenced off, the only access is via Lollipops Nursery. - ONGOING. 
2. To improve drainage in the sports field/park. Currently the area is almost unplayable due to poor drainage – this affects Football matches for the London Girls Football Club, and other park users. - ONGOING 
3. The paved area in front of the non functioning water fountain. This area is poorly paved, unsafe for walkers, and could make a lovely rose bed with seating. [Area 17metres by 4.5metres.] - FOUNTAIN REMOVED, PAVING REPLACED BY GRASSED AREA. 
4. Path through park to New Eltham Railway Station. Use of the path alongside the library, past the children's playground to the railway fence, with a gate providing access to the path leading to the Station. - ONGOING 
5. A “River of Flowers” alongside the fence dividing the park from the railway line. [Already discussed and agreed with Greenwich Parks and Open Spaces] – UNSUCCESSFUL, TO BE TRIED AGAIN. 
6. A Trim Trail. This would be available for all ages and abilities to use and enjoy as a means of fitness around the Park, and into the back field. - BEING PROCESSED. 
7. Maintenance of the area between the park and the back field. To provide a more open aspect between the park and the back field, and give park users the confidence to use and enjoy the back field. - CONTINUES TO BE MAINTAINED. 
8. Work ongoing to place seating around the perimeter of the park/near proposed keep fit area.

Despite a stuttered start we attend regular meetings on the last Wednesday of the month in the womens' football pavilion at the top entrance of the park. As a result of questionaire feed back we have initiated a five point action plan which is being submitted to the Council. A funday in the park with local attractions, the replacement of the water fountain in the front of the park for park users and their dogs, the opening of a footpath beside the library to New Eltham Station, the formation of an anti graffiti squad and last but definitely not least, getting a consistent opening and closing time for all park users advertised on a noticeboard.

 The friends groups are free to join and rely solely upon your input. Avery Hill Park, Altash Gardens, Queens Park and Fairyhill Park also have friends grouos and their contact details can be found on the London Borough of Greenwich website under community and leisure.

 The Friends of Southwood Park would very much like to welcome you and take on any challenges you may have for our small but well loved open space and facilities. Please feel free to contact me at anytime, Gavin Fancote gjfancote@yahoo.co.uk Chairman FOSP. 


November 2007 - Greenwich Council opens the gap in Southwood Park as suggested by NERA

 

Damage caused by quad bike in January 2009