Norwood Action Group: Aims

Overall aims of the group. These go beyond the town centre itself. Discussions have covered:

Environment: We want to see the greening of West Norwood. There is a strong desire to see St Luke's Gardens improved and a number of us would like to be involved in a working party to make proposals on that. There has also been some discussion about the possibility of providing a small children's playground either in St Luke's Gardens or on/near the green outside Norwood Hall. We believe that a playground might attract more families into the town centre or persuade those already there to linger. It is understood that the residents' association for the Hainthorpe Estate views the green as the property of estate residents only and not for general community use. We have not wanted to interfere with the association's rights to the land, but would like to feed into any discussion about the green's future. We have also agreed that a tree-planting programme is needed in local streets and welcome the start that has been made.

Education: We feel West Norwood is becoming progressively disadvantaged in terms of easily accessible, local education. We were against the closure of the further education college, in favour of broad community use for the old library, incorporating the ideas of West Norwood Community Development, and in favour of the introduction of adult and continuing education in West Norwood, preferably using the old library. The group has never taken a vote on the closure of Norwood Park School, but has expressed concerns that the over-provision of school places in West Norwood may be more apparent than real.

Sport and recreation: There are very few sports facilities in West Norwood (there is a tennis club and there are tennis courts and a cinder pitch for football in Norwood Park). We were in favour of Norwood Hall being re-opened and possibly used for indoor sports activities and have discussed the possibility of unwanted sites being turned into sports facilities, rather than sold off for housing. We also support the efforts of the Friends of Norwood Park, which is affiliated to Norwood Action Group, in improving the park.

Transport: the group has spent a large amount of time putting forward its views on the need for short-stay shoppers' carparking spaces in the town centre. It has also noted the need for an east-west bus route through West Norwood and pressed for improved public transport at Christmas. It is in the process of agreeing further policies.

Safety and crime: the group has supported the introduction of CCTV with some reservations. However, it opposed aspects of a police campaign around the station last summer, which it felt would frighten people away from the town centre.

In summary: West Norwood needs to be made more appealing to business and consumers, attracting more money into the area. We need to ensure the people who live here have jobs and therefore money to spend. So the area needs training and job opportunities, good public transport links and to be relatively crime-free. It also brings us on to our wish list for the town centre.