To all those who care about Lordship Rec.
This is an all-too-brief thank you to all those involved with the Lordship Rec Users Forum and to all the groups who care about our fantastic green space in the heart of Tottenham.
Over the last 12 months there has been an enormous amount of work and energy, commitment and enthusiasm, communication and co-operation, care and concern in developing and reviewing the proposals, plans, activities, meetings and consultation regarding the future of the Rec.
All of that individual and collective effort should be appreciated, whether its from residents and park users putting in their own time and resources, staff and officers working above and beyond the call of duty, or groups and organisations keeping their members informed and engaged throughout the numerous phases of this vital and in many ways unique community-led regeneration project.
This is real partnership working, not because we all agree on everything but because we all agree that by working together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and give-and-take we can pool and harness our collective determination to achieve something remarkable for the people of Tottenham. In many ways we have already begun to achieve just that. This is
demonstrated by the improvements already achieved for the park in the last few years, the increasing park usage and community involvement, and the ever-growing range of activities and events there. And this is all backed up by the ever-increasing profile for the park and public support for its regeneration.
In the light of the scale and complexity of the challenge, and the difficulty in accessing the substantial resources needed, we can all be very proud of our achievements up to now. 2009 was a particularly challenging year due to the continuous pressure and intensity of the collective scrutiny and decision-making around the Heritage Lottery Fund application and all the related plans and documents. Yet we have come through the year with flying colours, somehow also managing to collectively organise our best ever Community Festival showcasing the talents and concerns of our communities and the potential of the park.
In the coming year let’s continue the progress we’ve made. And let’s hope that we will at last get the resources that we have worked so hard for, and that the people of Tottenham fully deserve for our only district park.
Best wishes and happy new year to all
Dave Morris
Chair, Lordship Rec Users Forum