Thursday 7 March 2002 10.54pm
Then maybe you can help. I head a small community group that has been very active over the past couple of years saving SE1s biggest park, Archbishops, from various development threats.
We feel the only way to secure its long term future (there is not even a lease at the moment, so the public are effectively squatting) is by drawing up a proper management plan based on a proper study of user needs. We have secured £15,000 of regeneration funding from Lambeth Riverside (not Waterloo despite the fact that the park is in the latter SRB area). We probably only need £10,000 to £15,000 more. Lambeth are, now, being immensly helpful and we have formed a steering group with them. They are trying to identify 'planning gain' money which will allow the plan to be implemented. But do not have any money for the plan itself.
Could your employer help? We only need ten employers to stump up £1,000 - and since we are clear that improvements should benefit all park users, they would probably gain in terms safer jouneys to work, having a nice place for employees to go at lunchtime, better sports facilities etc.
Projects like this led essentially by local mothers trying to bring up children in the area are rare. It would be brilliant if we could now form a real partnership across the resident/employee divide so that the south of SE1 becomes a better place for us all.
So can you ask your employer, and see if they can make a contribution. If appropriate we could install a plaque naming all those who contributed to the project. And we will certainly try to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of the support we receive.
And if you work for Ernst and Young, or know anyone who does, can you ask them to push their employers to reconsider their decision not to offer any help!!!!!!!! (They are a huge firm and right next to the park, so stand to benefit most from our efforts and presumably have a policy of contributing to the community.). In contrast the lovely Fine Crown bakery in
Lambeth Road regularly donates buns and cakes for our events. So there you go. Small is beautiful. And cakes are probably better value than auditors.