I recently had the pleasure of meeting the fantastic group of volunteers who are friends of Thornton Heath Recreation Grounds. I went on a walkaround the site with them, to fully understand and see first-hand the issues of littering, grass cutting problems, and maintenance issues which are sadly blighting this fantastic green space.
I grew up and live nearby in Crystal Palace, and it is fantastic to meet such a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers in Thornton Heath, individuals who genuinely care for their local green space, which we are all very lucky to have in Croydon!
It was quickly evident that Littering is one of the main issues sadly, I witnessed litter often being disposed right next to the litter bins themselves, with some people even leaving domestic waste bags next to the bins as well!
The Children’s playground in this park is wonderful, and it was clearly enjoyed by many of the local community. The problem is that the provided bins nearby are too small to accommodate the large quantity of rubbish generated. I have asked Council officers to upgrade the bins, and install additional litter cages nearby, to try and help with the issue.
Grass was also another issue for dog walkers and anyone who is walking across the site. I had another member of the community approach me during the walkaround, asking when the grass will be cut, and were not happy with the current level of maintenance in their park by the Labour Council!
This problem unfortunately, is not unique to the Thornton Heath Recreation Ground. Due to the need for this Labour Council to make drastic financial cuts across the board, and the reduction in Council maintenance staff, has meant the grass cutting schedule across the borough have been drastically decreased to around 8–10-weeks cycles, instead of about 4 in normal times. I have asked Council officers to let me know when this site is next scheduled have the grass maintained, and what the regularity will be for this site going forward.
In addition, general maintenance was an issue; for example, some of the drain covers were loose, dangerous dips in some of the pathways which need maintenance, and areas of fencing needed refurbishing. All of these issues were causing safety hazards. Again, I have raised these very important issues to Council officers, to make the relevant investigations and actions, to help ensure this fantastic green space can be safely enjoyed by the local community.
Thank you to all the friends of Thornton Heath Recreation ground volunteers, who passionately stand up for this fantastic local treasure!
Cllr Scott Roche
Shadow Cabinet Member for Sustainable Croydon.
