A petition to block proposed changes to Burgess Park gathered over a thousand signatures at the weekend.
Plans to route the Southwark Cycle Spine straight through the middle of Burgess Park has got local residents’ backs up.
Further plans to fill in the Wells Way underpass, forcing dog-walkers, cyclists and pedestrians to tackle the traffic, spurred on Rob Anderson, of Addington Square, and his neighbours to draw up a petition, which garnered just over a thousand signatures in two days.
Kim Boone, who lives next to the park said: “Local residents are strongly opposed to both plans.”
Aqasa Nu, a regular Burgess Park user, added: “The cycle superhighway will benefit lots people who don’t live in Southwark and don’t use the park to relax in, to the determent of thousands of ordinary park users.”
Southwark’s cabinet member for public health, parks and leisure, Barrie Hargrove said £8m had already been invested in Burgess Park and the council was now consulting on the next phase of improvements.
“We recognise that people care passionately about their park and we will listen to their views through this consultation. One option being considered was the removal of the link across the park through the underpass under Wells Way. There is clearly strong feeling amongst local residents that this link should remain, and this will now be kept in place,” he said.
Cllr Mark Williams, Southark’s cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport, added that the council was currently considering the 1,000 responses it had to the Southwark Spine consultation. “Any new route through Burgess Park will be designed in a way that encourages responsible cycling, we will talk to local residents and park users about how we can do this in more detail before any works begin,” he said.
I have a question not a comment , Why is Burgess Park constantly being undervalued disrespected and perpetually treated as the poor relation especially vis à vis Brockwell park Dulwich Park and even Peckham Rye Park.? Don’t you decision makers realise that Burgess Park has saveed and is still saving countless lives? especially lives of people with Depression and anxiety even those with suicidal tendencies? There are thousands of people who have been neglected and who do not matter to society Burgess Park is the only friend we have please hands off Burgess Park go and flex on Hyde Park and other Bourgeois Parks (He that is down need fear no fall) leave Burgess alone it is already neglected enough if you doubt it take a trip to Dulwich Park or Brockwell Park even Small Peckham Rye Park and you will be left in no doubt about how Burgess is constantly abused and mistreated…..still you won’t leave her alone you continue to deuhumanise her while beautifying her rich sisters a big fat shame .