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1. Update as at 13.14 11 January – Legal papers have just been served for a Possession Order of the protest site at Battersea Park Adventure Playground – courtdate is Thursday 17 January. The event detailed below will still be happening as planned, lots of great folks confirming attendance – announcing details shortly!
2. Almost 9 out of 10 parents and carers said NO to current plans in Wandsworth Council’s own survey 9 out of 10 parents and carers said NO to current plans in Wandsworth Council’s own survey
3. This Saturday, all are invited to event celebrating playground’s past and future to come, marking one week of occupation
4. Local groups, residents and occupiers ‘demand the suspension of the demolition of Battersea Park Adventure Playground, pending the holding of a public meeting with a transparent and accountable dialogue and a full consultation by Wandsworth Borough Council of the whole community about the future provision of free, safe, staffed adventurous and accessible play facilities’

 

This Saturday 12 January, local groups, residents, occupiers and activists invite all to join them for an event celebrating Battersea Park Adventure Playground’s past and future to come as the occupation is due to mark one week of occupation. The event comes as news emerges that Wandsworth Council’s own survey concerning the future of the playground actually shows that almost 9 out of 10 parents and carers (86.6 per cent) said ‘No’ to what has become the council’s current plans – to bulldoze the historic and cherished playground replacing it with a sanitised ‘safe’ staff-less facility. [1]

With the fun due to happen between 2pm – 4pm at the occupation on Saturday, visitors can expect music, performance and speakers, including the views of children who are currently being deprived of proper adventure by the Wandsworth Council. Attendees are asked to bring picnic food to share, games to play and wear warm clothing! Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/558988854128528/ (new one created as original limited invitees to members of a Facebook group.

The campaign and occupation have received widespread support to date: including almost 5,000 signatures for the petition to save the playground and lots of visitors to the occupation dropping in supplies, clothing and bedding. Further support has come from celebrities in person and on Twitter, including tennis star Greg Rusedski, chef Levi Roots, comedian Mark Thomas and presenter Gia Milinovich, plus groups including Wandsworth Against Cuts, Occupy London and London Play. [2] [3]

Meanwhile in sharp opposition, Wandsworth Council has instigated a smear campaign seeking to negate legitimate protest, including intimidation and harassment of the occupiers on the ground. Currently, it is anticipated that Wandsworth Council will begin demolition early this coming Monday 14 January – delayed from the original planned date of 7 January due to the presence of the occupation.

The following demand has been issued from local groups, residents and occupiers involved:

“We demand the suspension of the demolition of Battersea Park Adventure Playground, pending the holding of a public meeting with a transparent and accountable dialogue and a full consultation by Wandsworth Borough Council of the whole community about the future provision of free, safe, staffed adventurous and accessible play facilities.”

Get involved!

All are welcome to get involved in this Saturday’s event and in supporting the occupation. Local residents, performers, artists, councillors, parents, carers and children are invited to get in touch, to perform or to support the event and the occupation in whatever ways they can – just email press@occupylsx.org or tweet @occupylondon if you have some time to spare and would like to take part or help.

Ten ways to support the occupation

1. Get involved in this Saturday’s celebration event and help make this event a great one!
2. Visit the camp; help paint signs or banners; drop off food and supplies
3. Tweet and share information about the occupation and the campaign to friends, family and people on social networks. Follow @occupylondon on twitter for latest updates
4. Help leaflet local residents, schools and offices (contact us for leaflets and times); help print out leaflets – get in touch if you can help
5. Write to your councillors, in particular Cllr Tracey: kathytracey@btconnect.com and Cllr Govindia: rgovindia@wandsworth.gov.uk
6. Call in to radio talk shows in support of campaign and write to the readers’ letters pages in newspapers
7. Respond to items, such as press releases, on Wandsworth Council website – many thanks to those who have already put comments
8. Submit Freedom of Information requests to the council about its processes and activities
9. Donate to the campaign and occupation
10. Check out Wandsworth Against Cuts website (http://www.wandsworthagainstcuts.co.uk/) and Occupy London’s website (http://occuplondon.org.uk/) to find out more about what they are up to and get involved.

Videos about the campaign to Save Battersea Park Adventure Playground:

hopkirkvt from London Tonight on Vimeo.

Notes

[1] Wandsworth Council survey – ‘Securing the future of Battersea Park Adventure Playground’ – with annotations by the public deconstructing the survey – http://personal.crocodoc.com/NIjHcyJ

[2] Petition to Save Battersea Adventure Playground – https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_GB&key=0AryFK155U1pwdDdxRUQ3WG9KdzBTY2prUUxLVTNOcWc

[3] London Play – http://www.londonplay.org.uk/document.php?document_id=1765.