Brockwell Park Road Clearance

[mockney piers]

*edit: doesn't seem all that bad, and there are plenty of links provided below to ongoing debates and consultations. plus it lokos rather nice*

It seems Lambeth council want to bulldoze 1000 sq m of Brockwell Park to shove a road through it. There's a very short consultation period which has passed with almost no effort on the council's part.

These chaps know more about it than me, but surely bulldozing london parks is meant to be anathema, I'm a little shocked by this

http://www.brockwellpark.com/

This shows the area, which while not that dramatic, I can't help but think it's not only the thin end of the wedge, but indicative of a certain contempt of the residents by lambeth council.

Do lounge if too far down the road.

[mockney piers]

Though having said all that it looks quite nice :-$

 

[downsouth]

Not yet looked at the detail but that road is a bugger to drive through at any time of the day - a serious bottle neck if ever there was one! Five roads into one just don't go. I love Brockwell Park but provided they take a small pinch I won't be upset - it's twice as big as Dulwich Park.

[spadetownboy]

dosent look much different than what its like at the moment,but if it means my 37 gets to brixton that bit quicker then sounds like a good idea.

[mockney piers]

Yeah, I've changed my mind since the email I was sent that alerted me to this 'travesty'. That area is basically a toilet for the carlsberg special brew brigade at the moment as well as something of a deathtrap.

I may have to retract my "appalled from ambridge" post :-$

[Ko]

This was discussed at the Dulwich Community Council meeting last Monday. See:

http://www.hernehillsociety.org.uk/

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Uploads/FILE_30466.pdf

[TJMP]

There's rather more about it here: Herne Hill Society

There has also been much discussion about it here: Herne Hill Forum

This matter has been under discussion for a long time in the Herne Hill area. The plans are supported by each of the four political parties that are represented on Lambeth and Southwark Councils.

Tessa Jowell MP

[lozzyloz]

Wasn't aware of this before but it looks like the sacrifice is worthwhile. I like the idea of pedestrianising the end of Railton Rd - Herne Hill Village?

[Nero]

Let's be realistic. The place is awful to drive through, mainly due to congestion. Getting rid of the dodgy toilets and a relatively small amount of park would be a good thing. The park is massive and can sustain a bit of a loss. Nero

[downsouth]

I've read a bit more and I am wholeheartedly in support. Herne Hill central is a lovely area but it needs to be less boxed in and congested. This proposal will allow for wider pavements, part paved areas (far safer for all the children and families who go there) and will be far more attractive for investment. Being the closest area to W Dulwich I fully support this. The organisation dead set against this has before and after shots of the boundary = http://www.brockwellpark.com/herne_hill_junction.htm

The park is 128.5 acres = 500,000 square metres. They propose to remove 1,000. 1/500th is 0.2% absolutely infintesimal.

Obviously this should not set a precedent for encroachment but there is a real need to improve this bottle neck.

[TJMP]

The expiry date for consultation in Lambeth actually appears to be 12 November: Lambeth Planning

All the documents associated with the application are on the link above. The application reference is: 07/03341/RG3

Tessa Jowell MP

[boosboss]

Amazing! Lambeth Council are actually encouraging traffic into the area, rather than what appears to be a national pastime of discouraging it! I wonder how many of those for this proposed land grab, would happily give up a percentage of their own front gardens to widen their roads and thus allow a better traffic flow. The demands on open/green spaces in London are at a premium and I don't think we can afford to lose any!

[downsouth]

I think you're being somewhat naieve. Do you live in SE24/SE21 or SE27? If you did you would know that there is a clear need for this. As I mentioned this is 0.2% of the park's space. The parcel of land in question currently houses a set of dire toilets and is a meeting point for the local drunks. As a regular user of this park I am for it.

What they plan to do to Crystal Palace - now that's another story entirely.

[Jah Lush]

I think it's an excellent idea and I'm all for it. The traffic flow around that part of Herne Hill has been bloody awful for decades. It's not like you will be losing much of the park anyway, just a bit of a snip around the main front gates and the old toilets.

[Maurice]

Wow! Common sense prevails. I'm impressed. A fantastic project and the naysayers on that website are making themselves look bad, and making it difficult for those fighting real causes of concern re: the preservation of green spaces.

[Mr Bojangles]

I thought I never say this but I agree with Maurice.

Whilst I'm sure the people on that website do a great job in terms of the park and I totally applaud people who give up their free time for such causes, you've got to pick and chose your battles carefully so as not to undermine your credibility for the important issues.

That corner of BP is grotty and this looks alright. If anything, it might make the park more attractive; less congestion and a tidier exterior.

[AnotherPaul]

A 'travesty' it is not, as for 'driv(ing) a road across the the park', they seem not to know what across means.

I'm wondering if the Friends of Brockwell Park is a front for the drunks who are the only people who use that patch of the park.

Oh, and I think it's a great idea.

(edited to include a positive)