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26
The Lewisham Recreation Ground.
In their last Report the Board referred to a letter from
the London County Council, dated the 27th February, 1890,
stating, in reply to an enquiry by this Board as to the formation
and laying out of the Ground, that the Council could
not obtain possession of the whole of the ground until the
25th March, 1890, and that the question of dealing with it
would be deferred until after that date.
In November (1890) the Board wrote again to the
Council in the matter, and in reply received information as
to the works intended to be carried out this year. The estimated
cost of these works amounted to £1,420, including
£700 for the bridge over the South Eastern Railway. The
Board were greatly disappointed to find that the Council
proposed thus to limit their expenditure in laying out the
ground, more particularly as the Council stated a much larger
outlay was contemplated in the early part of the year. The
Board understand that an expenditure of £4,500 was then
advised. Under that estimate the ground would doubtless
have been laid out in a more fitting manner.
When the Shortlands and Nunhead Railway Bill was
before Parliament it was admitted that the ground was considered
a matter of Metropolitan importance, as it was the
only ground available in the part of the District for a Recreation
Ground. And it was further stated that there were
natural features about the ground which were of very considerable
beauty, and that it wa3 capable of being laid out
in a very satisfactory manner. The Board are still in communication
with the Council on the subject, and they hope
that the Council may yet see its way to revert to the original
scheme for laying out and completing the ground, in order
that the public may enjoy its full advantage.