A site for residents of Prince's Ward, SE11, in the London Borough of Lambeth. Check for updates from your Labour Action Team's campaigning, local information, and meetings.

Friday 27 April 2012

A very successful year for Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

Yesterday was the AGM of the Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens - an opportunity for the Friends to look back over a very successful year. Highlights have included:

  • Changing the name of the park from Spring Gardens to 'Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens' - a more distinctive and memorable name which directly references the area's 18th and 19th century heritage.
  • Paul O'Grady opening the new entrance to the park (pictured), in a ceremony which attracted large amounts of positive coverage.
  • The Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents' & Tenants' Association successfully bidding for over £100000 to refurbish the Glasshouse Walk playground.
  • The opening of the Tea House Theatre, and re-opening of the Black Dog pub, which have brought new positive activity to the Glasshouse Walk side of the park.
  • The successful ballot to introduce the Vauxhall Business Improvement District, which will see street wardens introduced, railway viaduct tunnels improved, and other improvements in the area funded by local businesses.
  • The planning approval given to the Cabinet Gallery, which will bring a prestigious art gallery building to the park.
  • The planning approval given to the Basaveshwara statue for Albert Embankment Gardens.
  • New trees and bulbs planted by the Friends in the park.  
Things to look forward to over the coming year include:
  • Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens being part of the Olympic 'Cultural Corridor' - attracting visitors for the Games.
  • Work on the mounds behind the Vauxhall Tavern - to lower them and create a stepped amphitheatre effect.
  • Working on plans to transform Goding Street.
  • Interest from many organisations about holding more events in the park.
  • Investigating the possibility of a mural on the back wall of the Tavern.
  • A VGERTA/ Tea House Theatre Diamond Jubilee street party.
In 2006 a survey showed the park was perceived as being the least safe park in Lambeth. Thanks to the hard work of the Friends and the Council, the park is transformed. The new entrance in particular has reduced crime and the fear of crime dramatically. The Friends continue to do an excellent job and deserve the community's full support!

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Promoted by David Amos and Joanne Simpson of Prince's Branch Labour Party (Vauxhall Constituency and Lambeth Borough) all at 264A Rosendale Road, SE24 9DL