Greenwich decide fate of five borough adventure play centres
Greenwich Council are set to enact a number of changes to adventure play centres across the borough following a recent consultation.
In order to find savings due to cuts of £600,000 four out of five adventure play centres are to see changes. The issue has proved deeply unpopular with a number of petitions presented to the council in recent months. A report before the council’s cabinet next week confirms that Woolwich adventure play centre is to be relocated and become unstaffed.
It’s currently located on Pett Street near former estates now being redeveloped with an increase in overall housing. In the above image it’s to the left in front of new housing.
Despite Woolwich seeing some of the highest growth in new dwellings across not only London but the country, development-related funding via Section 106, the Community Infrastructure Levy nor the New Homes Bonus scheme has ensured retained centres not only in the town but further afield.
The council have also sold off many sites in the town for development, with the latest being the former Waterfront leisure centre for the new Woolwich Waves centre.
Woolwich adventure play centre currently offers supervised sessions at both an outside area with climbing all, zip wire and rope swings alongside an indoor space used for “arts and crafts, pool, table tennis, board games, or getting homework done in the quiet computer area.”
The report notes that “other investment / refurbishment options are to be explored”.
Glyndon Centre in Plumstead will also become unstaffed. The report notes that “there have been three offers from the voluntary sector to potentially take on the facility. The approaches were not elicited but as part of ensuring that we implement the proposals, these offers will be explored.”
It too currently offers both outside and indoor space for children.
Community Hubs
Two other centres will become “Community Hubs”. They are Coldharbour in Mottingham and Meridian in Greenwich.
Plumstead’s adventure centre is the only one of five to remain as it is.
Greenwich Council are portraying the move in terms of investment stating £600,000 will be spent on new hubs, though that does rather overlook that turning other adventure play centres into unstaffed spaces is aa result of cuts over a longer time period, or as they state “savings required as part of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy”.
Next week’s Cabinet meeting held at 2pm will sign off the plans with a council meeting later in the day at 7pm featuring two further petitions opposing changes. The council’s response states “No decision has yet been made regarding Meridian Adventure Play Centre.” though agreement earlier in the day seems a formality.
As for the future of Woolwich, the report states a potential site (though possibly not on a like-for-like basis with what exists) at Clockhouse Community Centre and the adjacent MUGA.
This is located in Woolwich Dockyard estate which could be in line for redevelopment itself. The council’s draft Local Plan lists the site as potentially seeing a net increase of 1,030 homes. Currently 670 homes are on site with 1,700 possible.
Another possible site mentioned in the report is Maryon Park where there “may be opportunities to look at the redevelopment of the current basketball area”.
Greenwich Council don’t seem to listen to the local people who are very upset about the Adventure play centers closing or relocating but also theft they will be unstaffed. They are a fabulous community resource for young people and very popular as a resource for young people to socialise. In fact I’d like to see the existing ones enlarged and open more for local people but staffing is essential. Unstaffed they will go into decline. Councillors aren’t listening. These centers may need a review and perhaps an increase in opening hours but they are so badly needed.
This council runs roughshot over every consultation. They make their decision before any consultation and they don’t care because it’s a safe labour seat.
Once people vote en masse for a different party (or independent), then it may scare them to take our views on board.
What’s almost worse is the council trying to portray these cuts as an investment. Do they think people are stupid? A short term cash injection is not substitute for long term spending reductions. Then there’s the obligatory mention of cuts and being forced to do it. Yes, we all know councils have steep cuts but they may have more credibility if they didn’t spend so much on political advisors and sending ever more cash to GLLAB for example from new builds rather than improving local facilities such as play centres. If such huge totals weren’t always given to GLLAB every single time from every development in Woolwich they could use a fraction to repair the broken equipment they now give as an excuse to close the centre. I’d have less contempt if they were just honest rather than mislead.
Agree with the comments on GLLAB. Benefits from that spend would be a suitable subject for scrutiny post the local election.