Plumstead Gardens work begins – and immediately hits controversy
Work at Plumstead Gardens is now underway though concerns have been raised after a local resident spotted paving slabs around 70 years old being dug up.
The flag stones are an intrinsic part of the remaining character of the gardens. A member of the park’s friends group stated:
“As you can imagine we were not best pleased about this, not just because of the lack of communication from RBG but because these stones are an original feature of the gardens and one we are not willing to part with”.
Upon asking why the paving slabs were being removed, they were told it was being tarmacked over. Then they later then assured they would be returned. One to watch. Local people in the parks group were not involved of what was happening.
It was stated that:
“Our usual contact from RBG Parks and Open spaces was very apologetic for the lack of communication and although she wasn’t able to answer all of our questions she has assured us that they will not be replaced with tarmac and that the stones will be stored because she and RBG understand the importance of preserving the history of the park by repairing and reusing original materials wherever possible.”
The contact was not the person who authorised the work, and the person that did authorise it was apparently on leave when contact was attempted. People are confused as to why stones would be removed to begin with. There was no trip hazard.
Park history
Concern is understandable. In the 1990s an ornamental garden, pond and bridge in the gardens was unceremoniously destroyed by Greenwich Council.
Long term neglect set in and the area regularly floods. As someone who grew up locally and always loved visiting (the BMX track was great – it’s now gone) it was dismaying to see it decline. The authority trashing the pond and gardens is something I’ll never forget when walking in one day. A massive waste. It felt like a big two fingers to the area. It wasn’t just removing the bridge and pond, but then leaving the broken rubble and mess on site for years. Couldn’t care less seemed the way of thinking.
It’s things like that which over a long period led to me starting this site.
The project will also remove another feature in the park as the child paddling pool is to be re-landscaped:
Given the history of this site and wider area it’s not difficult to understand why people are worried. It’s certainly one to monitor.
Does anyone remember the roller skating rink, youth centre, tuck shop & toilets. Spent many happy days there as a child. In paddling pool etc…
The man who had a go at Sadiq Khan at one of the Mayor For London Select Commitees was right when he shouted at Sadiq Khan and said you and your party do not care about our Countries heritage.
He also mentioned another 135 Labour controlled Councils which have destroyed parts of our heritage. (I am guessing he was talking about buildings and other heritage features in these Boroughs)
The gentleman was spot on and we are seeing this time and time again from Labour contolled Greenwich Council as this article points out.
Thank you Murky for keeping us informed and updated.
‘Doing your bit’ for the Tories manufactured culture war I see Graham …
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/15/tories-war-on-the-woke-ministers-statues-protests
I’d be interested as to what incident you are referring to, as the only recent one I can find just related to incoherent abuse shouted in the street.
Was it one of these remarkably charming and erudite men?
https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1305043198146904064
Quite so,it would be interesting to know how many trees have been destroyed needlessly, recently & historically, having been planted by this very wasteful Royal Borough!!
Ballard for your information I do no support any particular political party as all as bad as each other. However, II do think we have a right to save our Counties heritage.
If it offends people when we stand up for our own Countries hertitage than that is too bad as we have a right to do so. Just as all other Counties around the world have a right to defend their owm heritage.
Doubling-down now, I see. Very inventive.
The article above is about some flagstones in a local park, and the author’s concern that renovation work takes care to preserve them, it’s nothing to do with the issues you are so keen to push.
No one is proposing to rename the ‘Oswald Mosely Municipal Bandstand’, or the ‘P. W. Botha Children’s Play Area’ or God-knows-what here. It’s about some paving stones with zero historical-political significance.
Trying to attach that argument and agenda to this matter is just ridiculous.
Graham … That’s a very poor response, considering amount the time you took to come up with it.
I say this, because I can see, based on looking into this further, that the ‘man’ you quote above was Shaun Bailey, the Conservative Mayoral candidate whose stream of mendacious drivel you’ve conflated with some creative writing of your own.
Then there’s the fact that you constantly respond with faux-indignation at length to anything relating to Greenwich or other Labour councils on here, yet remain silent regarding any posts relating to the failings of Tory held ones.
Also, there’s the glaring issue that what you are attempting to disseminate here has very little to do with what’s brought up in the article.
By the way, next time you think to parrot divisive and mendacious culture-war material, at least try to use the English language correctly …
“Country’s” means, something belonging to that country. E.g The country’s wealth was reaching an alarming rate. You can also use it like, e.g Mary’s house was damaged due to the storm. “Countries” means, more than one country.
No it was not Shaun Bailey at all It actually Ballard it was a white middle aged man with grey and glassses at one of the Mayorals select commitees at City Hall.
He was not a Poliitican but from some heritage organisation but i cannot remeber which one.
The fact the remains that Greenwich Council have wasted a huge amount of money over the years which could have been spent on protecting services for children, vulnerable people, the elderly and disabled who need our help and support the most.
Nothing wrong with standing up for our Country or our heritage Graham. Good for you !!
Your aslo right about the huge amount of money wasted by Greenwich Council which could have been spent on front line services.
Doubling-down now, I see. Very inventive.
The article above is about some flagstones in a local park, and the author’s concern that renovation work takes care to preserve them, it’s nothing to do with the issues you are so keen to push.
No one is proposing to rename the ‘Oswald Mosely Municipal Bandstand’, or the ‘P. W. Botha Children’s Play Area’ or God-knows-what here. It’s about some paving stones with zero historical-political significance.
Trying to attach that argument and agenda to this matter is just ridiculous.
The Select Committe meeting Graham refers too was fimed and then shared on Whats App by someone at the meeting. The man talking was certainly not Shaun Bailey who is the Tory Mayoral candidate Ballard was refering too.
However as long as the flagstomes are being preseved and replace at a later date that is all that matters. Now i think it time for this matter to bed so to speak.
** Now time to put this matter to bed I so to speak **
“The Select Committe meeting Graham refers too was fimed and then shared on Whats App by someone at the meeting. The man talking was certainly not Shaun Bailey who is the Tory Mayoral candidate Ballard was refering too.”
= Hence no one outside that WhatsApp group can access the material.
Personally I don’t even use WhatsApp due to privacy concerns, it tends to be more the realm of people involved in politics, such as yourselves.
It’s irrelevant to the content of the article above in any case, and it’s ridiculous to reference the current right-wing culture-war agenda here.
** Now time to put this matter to bed I so to speak **
= Please, do ^^
Keep a keen eye on those paving stones,the way they are palletised suggests they have already been sold- on never to return to their original setting. More money into LBG`s back pocket!! Come on Danny get a grip.
I learnt to skate there back in the very early sixties. Then went on to play roller hockey for Loughborough University, and (with tongue in cheek) played for England against Portugal. We also used to use the barrier around it as a tennis net of sorts. So one side played on the hard rink surface and the other on the grass outside, with coats or jumpers marking the corners. Hoad and Rosewall had nothing on us!
Same coats and jumpers that we used as goal posts with our never ending football games. 65 – 53 being a not untypical score, but it didn’t matter as during the day you changed sides several times.
Turns out they will be using a resin based material for the paths.
In the process of removing the original flagstones the workers damaged them…
So they will try and reuse them in repairing walls and steps etc.
I am really quite angry about it people!!!
It is a beautiful space which has absolutely been neglected.
I watched council vans driving on the pathways literally destroying the paths and compacting the turf either side, which later become flooded.
Pretty shameful really.
Typical cowboy tactics displayed yet again by not recycling that which was already well established raw material.When will they ever learn??
Yes, I lived in a house that overlooked the park and regularly went there on my roller skates. I used to borrow stilts as well, but never mastered walking on them