Save Greenwich Park from Olympic Equestrian events in 2012 : You Say ...

See what local residents have said

January 2010: My partner and I both work in the City and could have chosen to live anywhere in London, but we chose to live here because of the Park. It is a part of our day-to-day family life. My partner walks through the entire park every weekend. We use the playground and Maritime Museum frequently, and when we have visitors from overseas, we always take them to the Park. Closures in the Park will negate our entire reason for living here, as well as depriving everyone of one of the most beautiful spots in London. AJ, SE10; In Greenwich, many families with children live in small houses with either no gardens, or small ones at best. They need this park to let their children run around and play. Also, many adults use this park for keeping fit. Closing the park for such lengthy periods robs all these people from their outdoor activities. How can you justify this for an Olympic event? Because the poorest people live in very cramped conditions, closing the park will hurt them most. I find it especially appalling that this will be done to organize an elite sport like equestrian sports. PJdS, SE10; My wife suffers from a debilitating cancer and we very much rely upon using the gated entrance to the park at the bottom of King William Walk. Given that, according to the plans, this part of the park will be closed for a significant period of time, it will make our lives very difficult. My wife will struggle to take our children out to get the exercise that they need in the park they should be fully entitled to use. JS, SE10; It is foolish to deny the very deep and emotional attachments regular visitors to Greenwich Park hold; just spend a few hours there during any weekend when families are enjoying recreational time together, to note how much enjoyment is had. And, read the many inscriptions on the park-benches to learn of past enjoyment. This park is not just a recreational space, or one of special heritage, or one within which the Greenwich Meridian passes through, or one that possibly affords the best view of London from, it is far more than all of that: it is held in the hearts of its regular visitors as a place of special and unique beauty, whereby the toils and strife of their everyday lives are soothed and placated. JS, SE3 (Westcombe Ward); Greenwich Park is a legacy to us from previous generations. It is the jewel of south east London. It is used week in and week out by tens of thousands of Londoners and tourists. I believe it is a disgrace that this legacy is being abused and threatened to serve the interests of a small group. PM, SE3; Many families will suffer during a closure of any part of the park, however short . Many live in small houses with no or only a small garden. An elite sport will affect poor people. KDC, SE10; Hundreds of people use the Park daily walking, running, exercising their dogs and enjoying its ancient trees, magnificent views and historic buildings, museums and archaeological remains. In addition thousands of visitors come from all over this Country and from overseas to visit the Park which has World Heritage Status. The damage and disruption to this historic jewel would amount to cultural and ecological vandalism. MC, SE3; Vast numbers of people use the park to freely walk, play, enjoy the grounds, and under your plans, this freedom will cease to be. SJP (no postcode given); The closure of the Park ... will deprive people like these of a precious public space that gives them not only a sense of belonging here but keeps alive the community. These common and frequent users of the Park have no voice and none of the amenity societies laying claim to be speaking for Greenwich represent them. In the greater national interest, these Park users' needs ought to be given consideration vis-a-vis the commercial and artificial exigencies of the sponsors of this event. MAQ, SE3; If the scheme were to be granted planning permission, many thousands of people who would want to use the park for its primary purpose (as a place of relaxation and recreation) will be prevented from doing so for prolonged periods (at the height of summer and the school holidays). The park is quite small, so even closing half of it represents a serious restriction. JB, SE10; A huge number of people without gardens or large green spaces near their homes rely upon Greenwich Park for fun, sun, games, picnics, family parties especially during the Summer months. It is heart warming to see so much happiness. DS, SE10; I enjoy the park almost every weekend all year round. During periods of health problems this park was (and is) my rescue with its beauty and vastness - I could not do without my long walks in the park. CG, Greenwich resident