Image: Will Martindale Battersea Labour Party. |
These fees have been introduced to encompass staffing of the park during peak hours, the high cost attached to Health and Safety and overall maintenance of the park. The financial constraints on the council have resulted in BPAP having to generate money from it's users. At present no plans have been disclosed as to charging on Weekdays and during the school holidays and term times.
As you can imagine their has been local discontentment to this fee along with other slashes to local services in the borough which has had an impact on local families. Ken Livingston Labour's Candidate for Mayor of London and Sadiq Khan Labour MP are in support of councillor Tony Belton's new petition against Wandsworth Conservative's plans to put a 'tax on play' and showed up in full force to Battersea Park Adventure Playground on Saturday 21st May to speak to the locals about their concerns. Both Labour representatives have been very vocal in their opposition to these plans:
Sadiq Khan at Battersea Park showing his support against the introduction of new fees. |
Ken Livingston at Battersea Park showing his support against the introduction of new fees. |
One thing that is clear is the BPAP fee will surely affect poorer families with 2+ children, free activities in the borough which aids social, explorative, emotional and physical development should be protected under Local Play Strategies, and Every Child Matter's to support inclusivity removing all barriers associated to play.
If you believe the £2.50 charge to be unfair sign the petition at
www.tinyurl.com/pay-to-play-petition or
http://tinyurl.com/424qsbb
e-petition ends on the 4th June 2011
Thank you to Battersea Labour Party organisers Will Martindale and Andy Fearn and Michael Mapp for the Images.
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