Friends of Danson Park
The Friends of Danson Park is an active and enthusiastic group of local people formed to safeguard the interests of the Park and to support the Council in its development.
The Friends hold a bi-monthly meeting for members. Meetings are in the Boathouse Function Room in the Park, except for the July meeting, generally held in the house. All are welcome to attend and membership of the Friends of Danson Park is free
The group gives local interested people a chance to hear reports from those responsible for the management of the park and the facilities within it, and to air their views or ask questions.
Fund-raising events and raffles held at the meetings provide an income which is used for park projects, the latest of which is the reinstatement of the plinth which will shortly be re-erected in the Rose Garden opposite the house.
Meetings are on the last Tuesday of alternate months. The last 2009 meeting of the Friends group will be on:Tuesday 24th November 2009.
All meetings commence at 7.30pm in the Boat House in Danson Park (except for the July meeting which is at Danson House in the breakfast room). Further information is available here.
Thames Gateway Bridge Update
The Friends of Danson Park are pleased to announce that a letter was received in January 2009 from Persona Associates who are the Process Consultants for the Thames Gateway Bridge ( T.G.B) Public Inquiry.
This letter confirms that “Transport for London will no longer be pursuing the TGB scheme. Formal notification has been sent to the Secretary of State that TFL withdraws the planning applications for the Bridge.”
Friends of Danson Park were represented as objectors at the 11 month long Public Inquiry in 2005/ 2006 to this proposed Bridge which , had it been successful, would have meant an increase in road pollution and traffic and the consequent environmental threat to the Park and its wildlife as a result of this increase.
This decision represents a significant victory for local campaign groups who all objected to this proposal, but notably, local residents Jacqui and Steve Wise and their Action Group Against the Bridge. Their dedication and research in presenting the best possible case against the Bridge for Bexley and all the other Boroughs, was an inspiration to local groups such as ours and undoubtedly played a significant part in showing the Inquiry Inspectors the strength of local feeling about this unsuitable proposal.
It is good to see what ordinary local people, as individuals and via their community groups such as Friends of Danson Park can achieve.
Thank you to everyone involved.