An Update from the Chairman of the Friends., David Hansom

I hope you all had a most enjoyable and restful Christmas break.
I found the official minutes of the meeting with the Mayor, quite by chance, this morning.

I've extracted those parts relevant to Beckenham Place Park and attach them as a Word document.
As you will see, the minute-taker has reported quite accurately what transpired.
The full text of the minutes can be found on :
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/A14471E2-7D10-48F8-BBA9-E8010BCC3CC1/0/178dabc3e821424b877a35cf89a0442dMinutes3December2008.PDF
While another hurdle has been cleared, the finishing line is still some distance away and not without potential hazards to overcome on the way.
A happy New Year to you all,
Best regards,
David.

EXRACT FROM MEETING OF LEWISHAM MAYOR & CABINET

– 3/12/2008 LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

MINUTES of that part of the meeting of the MAYOR AND CABINET, which was open to the press and public, held on WEDNESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2008 at LEWISHAM TOWN HALL, CATFORD, SE6 4RU at 5.30pm

Present: The Mayor (Sir Steve Bullock) (Chair); The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alexander (Vice-Chair); Councillors Best, Klier, Massey, Onuegbu and Wise.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Fitzsimmons.

Also Present: Councillors Griesenbeck, Morris and Russell.

ITEMS 1-7 (see full report on Council Meeting)

Beckenham Place Park Consultation

The Mayor was addressed by David Hansom representing the Friends of Beckenham Place Park who described three elements of the park, the golf course, the woodlands and the river which he believed combined to make it a hidden gem. He said he would not like to see any developments that led to a loss of public access or which threatened the thriving 18 hole golf course. He recounted his participation in the consultation exercise but cast doubt about the value of the final interview phase with residents of the three closest Lewisham wards. He concluded by calling for the retention of the park’s current character and asked the Mayor to consider only modest change.

 

The Mayor accepted a petition handed in by the Friends of Beckenham Place Park and promised this would be formally presented at a Council meeting                                                                                                             Mayor/Head of Committee