Sian Berry, the Green Party’s candidate for London Mayor, on Friday visited the Upper Norwood Joint Library, which is under threat from cuts by Lambeth and Croydon councils
Sian Berry, the Green Party’s candidate for London Mayor, on a visit to Upper Norwood on Friday, pledged to make City Hall drop its grand projects, and set-up a unit to support community trusts trying to run Crystal Palace Park and the National Sports Centre, Upper Norwood Joint Library and housing estates.
On her visit, Berry met various local community groups, including the Crystal Palace Park stakeholders, the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership and the Save Upper Norwood Library Campaign.
“I was struck by the frustration and anger with City Hall and councils which obstruct these groups and impose flawed top-down proposals that they have to fight off,” Berry said.
“I want to end this top-down culture, and instead make City Hall support community-led projects and plans all across London. If elected Mayor, you can be sure I wouldn’t try to dump a massive commercial building on your park or knock down your housing estate.
Sian Berry: No more Boris vanity projects
“A Green City Hall would stop secret negotiations about Crystal Palace Park and let the community trust take control of the park’s future, joined up with the fantastic sports groups working for a future for the National Sports Centre. We would set-up a team in City Hall to help communities trying to develop viable business models for community trusts, whether they run parks, libraries or housing estates, and work to persuade local councils to get behind their residents.
“I also want to clean up the terrible air pollution around Crystal Palace. Greens in City Hall will continue to back residents with a vision of streets for people not just cars, where children can safely walk or cycle to school, and places like the Triangle aren’t clogged with traffic that never stops to shop.”
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