Changing Public Space To Private Gardens?
Residents apply to annex part of Wandsworth Park for personal use
Section of river walk in question - image ©Friends of Wandsworth Park
Residents of Blade Mews and the easterly end of Deodar Road have applied to Wandsworth Council to rent the section of Wandsworth Park that lies at the end of their gardens for their communal use.
The section of the park has been closed to the public as it had become a meeting point for anti-social behaviour and rough sleeping on the benches.
Local residents of the site have expressed concern on the Putney forum over the proposal. Including local group the Friends of Wandsworth Park , who were unaware until the posting that the application existed despite being in contact with Wandsworth Council/Enable for over two years with a proposal to use the area for an Education Centre or for plantings.
Pat Gross, Chairperson for Friendsof Wandsworth Park, told this website:
"The majority of our committee are in opposition to the lease as we've proposed using that space for years for developing an educational centre, or any of a number of other ideas. We were saddened to learn that they were even considering leasing the property. We will be filing an ACV and are optimistic that we can retain the park land for the benefit of all the community and most importantly to protect any further loss of public land in an area that is already challenged for green space with the many new large developments. We are grateful for all the community support".
Proposed area to be annexed for private use - application 2017/2707
William Smith posted on the forum, "Marcia Gillings at Wandsworth planning who was very helpful. The decision to lease out this section of the park was taken a year ago by the council. The planning application is to establish if there is any planning reason to stop the owners of the adjacent property having direct access to the site if they were successful in acquiring the lease. The next step would be for the council to publicly advertise the lease so that anyone can bid on it. So you really could buy your own section of riverfront park."
Mr Smith has a unique proposition for the section of land: "If it was turned into an allotment then you'd have local volunteers maintaining the site and it would no longer be a suitable place to sit or sleep as there would be fruit and veg growing where the benches used to be. It would be an unusual spot to have an allotment (to say the least) but it's one way to keep it open to the public.
"We already have some fruit & veg growing on the Ashburton Estate near Tildesly Road shops. Local volunteers cleaned out and removed weeds and rubbish and planted fruit and veg and now maintain the area with weeding & watering. The fruit and veg is free for everyone to enjoy, it's not a private allotment."
John Cameron advises residents to apply for an Assets of Community Value (ACV) for the land. On the forum he posted: "The Friends of Wandsworth Park, (or any other community group) can immediately put in an application to WBC to list the land as an Asset of Community Value. It doesn't cost a penny, there is no risk, and the land fits all the criteria to be listed as an ACV".
The reason for this he explains: "Once the ACV application has been submitted the planning officers / committee will be obliged to take this into account. And once granted WBC will not be able to sell / lease the land without following through the ACV process. What this means is that if and when WBC do decide to sell the land, there is a moratorium of six months during which time the successful ACV applicant has the time to raise the money to bid".
We have contacted the architect who have made the application to annex the area and the Thamesfield councillors, as yet we have had no response.
May 19, 2017