Volunteers criticize Croydon Council for insufficient support in maintaining South Norwood Country Park. They cite fly-tipping, illegal fishing, and lack of lease renewals.
The groups say the council does not value them and ignores their requests for more support. They want help running the park and protecting it.
A café’s lease will expire soon, but the council has not discussed renewing it. A visitor center is still closed after arson in 2020. Volunteers also claim fly-tipping happens often, and illegal fishing goes unchecked.
Lucy Hopkins runs The Kiosk café and wonders why Croydon isn’t helping. She notes the many motivated community members who work for free. She feels Mayor Perry only offers empty words.
Hopkins fears for her café, as its lease renews soon. Even a short lease extension would help, but she sees little chance of this happening. Mayor Perry promised to reopen the visitor center.
The center and toilets remain locked and covered in graffiti. The council wouldn’t support a mural, which makes Hopkins question the council’s thinking. The park serves residents and protects local wildlife.
The lake attracts birds like herons, and grasslands offer homes to mammals. Illegal fishing troubles volunteers because no one seems to stop it. Dog walkers from Bromley are another concern.
Many dogs damage the wetlands, and volunteers want to protect these habitats. They want a balance between nature and people, but too many dogs upset this balance. Croydon council and Thames Water haven’t responded.
