UPDATE on the COMPOSTING SCHEME in the BURNING AREA in BPP.

Initially this scheme was ‘discovered’ through hearsay and very near to it actually starting, so after a meeting with LBC and Glendale reps we had to agree to wait and see what happened. Having had the scheme in operation these last three months we can say we are less than impressed. This is an edited email we sent to the Council saying we thought the whole thing was a disaster so far.
We wish to register our concerns about health and safety dangers which led to The fact that invasive species of plants can be introduced into the park, the destruction of habitat for stag beetles etc. the loss of a footpath and impedance on other paths from traffic which is in excess of that indicated by Glendale and council officers, the mud and mess generally being generated on paths, another trip/slip hazard for pedestrians, the fact that this will create conflict between lorries, cyclists if Sustrans plans for a circular cycle route go ahead, pedestrians etc.
The traffic entering and exiting on the railway bridge is another health and safety 'accident waiting to happen'.
We were also told that the gates would be closed to control movement of traffic but gates are left open and unattended allowing access to fly tippers.
We have a considerable number of photos showing damage to paths not designed to take this traffic, damage to grass areas, and unsightly piles of earth which have been bulldozed up. There has been no attempt to minimise the visual impact of this 'industrial' operation or try to benefit the park in some other way. Again Beckenham Place Park is being used as a convenience (in all its 'implications').Have any  council officers inspected the site?
There was no consultation with the park user group, BPP working party, and indeed on this point people on that BPP Working Party are not being advised of meetings so we can hardly believe that Lewisham Council are being particularly democratic in this regard.
I understand that land adjacent to Wisley Royal Horticultural Society has to apply for planning permission for a similar operation and there are concerns about pathogens and bio aerosols which emanate from such operations contaminating surrounding plants with diseases.
Also, we were told that only park compostable material would be imported but it seems that rubbish from estates is also being imported as well as other rubbish, hard core and old goal posts and the place is becoming landfill. Maybe we should contact the Environment Agency to see if it contravenes any legislation for landfill.
People who have taken photos of the site have felt threatened by the interest taken by operatives, there is a feeling that rubbish from Phoenix and even Bromley are being tipped here.
This has become an industrial scale scheme on an unsuitable site and when it was said to an operative that this was more suitable for an industrial site our representative was told there would be run-off to deal with on such a site but apparently it is Ok for the park to be polluted.
Mal Mitchell for the committee of the Friends of Beckenham Place Park