Save Newham City Farm, a group that has been campaigning against the Council’s decision to close the local farm without public consultation, accuses the cabinet of lack of transparency.

The decision to shut the green community resource based at King George V Park, in Beckton, was announced in September and the petition attracted over 45,000 signatures and the support of many local councillors, and East Ham MP Stephen Timms.

One of the campaigners said: “Our petition has not been taken seriously. The council had opportunities to secure financial support or to ask the community to get involved but instead cut the budget to create an emergency scenario.”

Another member of the team said: “We are frustrated with the delays and in some cases failures to communicate with us.”

According to the campaigners, the Council has not yet made clear whether the closure is due to budget cuts or animal welfare. They believe that they would be able to find local businesses willing to sponsor the city farm initiative and, if the animals’ wellbeing is the main concern, the farm should close temporarily, while the issues are being resolved.

Maureen Parker and her son, Tom, who has Down’s syndrome, have been volunteering in the city farm for nine years until Covid-19 came. She said: “My son is down and he misses the farm dreadfully, asking all the time when can we go back.”

Another user, Kim Thompson, said: “With two young adult sons with special needs in our family, Newham City Farm was an asset. It was local, within walking distance with our boys in their wheelchairs. No need to wait around endlessly for transport as parents and helpers could wheel them there. They absolutely enjoyed every minute of being there and mingling with the animals in a well provided for space.”

A Newham Council’s spokesperson told Newham Voices: “We appreciate that Newham City Farm was a much loved aspect of the borough. The Cabinet committed that it will remain a publicly accessible green space for the use of the community, with whom we will work to deliver new facilities, with children and families in mind, that will offer strong provision for years to come.

“Through the Beckton Parks Masterplan project, we will be consulting with the community to develop a landscape masterplan for the area that will include adjoining King George V Park and the Beckton District Park North and South, New Beckton Park and Beckton corridor.”

The second phase of the consultation process is due to start in early 2022 and residents can sign up to make their suggestions for all the parks in the area.

Save Newham City Farm campaigners submitted two questions to the Cabinet ahead of the council meeting that took place on 22 November, and the Council has committed to providing written answers to these as part of the documents for the following meeting.

This story was originally published in the January 2022 print edition (Issue 13) and was updated online on 2 January 2022.

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