September 9 2013.

Jo Pettitt reports:


A successful 'Fun Afternoon' was held at Lewes Road Hut and Rec on Saturday by Riverside Park Community Voice. The event was well attended by local people who came to find out more about the site, as well as share their ideas for the future of the area.

Riverside Park is a designated Site of Nature Conservation Importance, and information about the varied and, in some cases nationally scarce, species was on display. Photographs of people enjoying the site were also on show, as well as beautiful images of the Riverside Park at different times of the year.

Other groups including the Ouse Valley Cycle Network, Castle Hill Conservation Group, The Railway Land Project in Lewes, Veolia and local Canine Behaviour experts also had stands. We were also treated to an unexpected visit from a man sized gorilla!

Residents commented on how they currently use and enjoy Riverside Park and explained what they would like to see on the site in the future.

Many more signatures were added to the petition to transfer the area from Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council ownership to Newhaven Town Council, to 'Keep It Local'.
Above all, it was great to hear so many people enthusing about Riverside Park.
The message was clear that this huge open space is highly valued and residents want to see its future as a community asset protected.

Jo Pettitt

Website: www.riversidepark.org.uk 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RiversideParkCommunityVoiceNewhaven?fref=ts  

Petition: www.change.org/petitions/lewes-district-council-and-east-sussex-county-council-transfer-riverside-park-to-newhaven-town-council-2?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition#