Community Trust shines in Stockwell Park

FLYING HIGH: The community open day at Stockwell Park

Hundreds of residents of Stockwell Park Estate came together on Saturday for a community fun day and to discuss ambitious plans for the future.

There were film screenings, latin dancing, bouncy castles and a wealth of workshops at the event, which included a consultation on major improvements to the Community Trust’s headquarters, at the heart of the estate.

Trust chairman Martin Thomas said: “It has been an absolutely great day with a real mix of people from the estate and the streets around it.

“And we have 101 things going on, we are asking what people want from the new centre, and the Community Trust Housing are talking about the regeneration of the estate.”

South American dancers from Inka Expression entertained the crowds and drama group Theatre of the Dispossessed will be producing a show about the day. Elsewhere youngsters bounced on a bouncy castle, Barney from Brixton Cycles mended bikes for free and the team from Edible Bus Stop unveiled their ideas for a new planting project near to Brixton Skate Park on the edge of the estate.

Barney told the Brixton Blog: “I have done a few bikes so far – but I am not sure any of them were very safe in the first place!” As part of the wider regeneration of Stockwell Park, the co-operative cycle shop will move to a brand new building by 2014.

Regeneration manager Tim Goodwin was also talking about exciting plans for a refurbished community centre, formerly an underground car park, including planting vegetables on its roof and increasing green space in the plaza outside by moving car parking spaces.

The Community Trust was formed by residents in 1994 as a response to a high crime rate locally. In 2007 Community Trust Housing took over managing the estate from Lambeth Council.

You can have your say on the regeneration at the Community Trust Housing website.