We, The Friends of Love Lane Green need our Woodside Councillors to pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order to bring a community green space back into public ownership.

Love Lane Green is a piece of Metropolitan Open Land in South Norwood, SE25, that was sold off when the Greater London Council was disbanded in the 80’s. The green was a thriving community space and playing field, however the community were not informed of the planned sale, which they could have easily raised funds for. 

Over the following years the site had been allowed to fall into ruin, its MOL status has protected it from development.  The owner has tried to prevent the community from accessing the land and as a result the site was overgrown and blighted with fly tipping, making it unsafe to use the footpath that runs adjacent to the site. 

Since 2015 the Friends of Love Lane Green have cleared areas of rubbish, hazardous waste and overgrown areas to create a community garden, recognised by Croydon Council as an Asset of Community Value. We now learn that the owner of the land has licensed the space and intends to erect a fence to prevent the community gaining access to maintain the site. An agent acting on behalf of the owner has circulated misinformation and installed a container in the community garden with the intention of storing materials on site for when work commences.  This affects the whole of the community in the Love Lane area as the open space is valued and used by young and old. Regular play events are held here, along with gardening with older residents. The path has been kept clear, making active travel easier. Everyone in this community benefits from this open space. 

We believe we have a strong case for a compulsory purchase order to return the land, in its entirety, to public ownership. Once returned to the community we will work in partnership with the council to maintain the green.