Springfield Park is the new 32-acre park next to the redeveloped Springfield Hospital. The first phase of the park opened last summer, off Burntwood Lane, after many years of planning and construction work.
It’s the largest new park in London for decades, outside of the Olympics legacy.
Wandsworth Council has the legal option to buy Springfield Park for a pound, securing it for future generations. But instead of owning the park, the council is letting it revert to the developer.
This puts the park at risk. After five years, the funding pot for maintenance will run out. The council expects new residents at the Springfield site to pay for a large public park from their service changes.
This is a precarious model and the pressure will be to reduce standards and limit access. Ultimately, who owns and who pays will decide its future.
Public parks should be owned by the public. That’s the only way to ensure they are run properly, are run for local people, and are secure for decades to come.
Wandsworth Council should buy Springfield Park. The maintenance costs involved are no different from any other park, don’t arise for five years and could be met easily, including by reallocating other funding from the site. A pound buys land worth millions.
Please sign the petition and tell the council to think again.
UPDATE: The petition has now been submitted to Wandsworth Council, but the more signatures the campaign receives increases the pressure on Wandsworth Council to change their decision so please continue to sign and share this with your friends, family, and neighbours.
Watch local Conservatives fighting to Save Springfield Park.
