A new committee has been formed with one mission in mind. To restore Broadfield Park back to it’s former glory.

On Thursday 1st October over 20 Crawley residence made their way to Broadfield Community Centre to hear Councillors Alan Quirk and Lee Gilroy discuss the plans set out for this project.

All were keen for the go ahead

“Back in 1830 the house was used as a hunting lodge for Tilgate Estate (as it was called then)” one lady spoke up and told us. “I worked there when I was young. Previous to that, it was a hotel but went up in flames, with a horse drawn fire engine attending to battle the fire. 

A large number of attendees

Up until the mid 80′s, Broadfield Park was a splendid venue for picnics and a spot of fishing in the lake. The ‘white house’ (as it was referred to in the 70′s) was a grand building overlooking the flowered gardens. In later years (early 80′s) it was the home of Radio Mercury. Unfortunately time took it’s toll and the garden became overgrown and unsightly in some areas. This is all about to change.

Currently the park is looked after by the Council who do their best to deter any unsavoury visitors or dumping of waste, but the park is still not used by the community due it’s over zealous growth.

The vision for the revitalised Broadfield Park

Alan Dixon, Assistant Parks Manager for Crawley Borough Council told the attendees “this is going to be a large project and we are appealing for volunteers from the community to help. Although everyone is welcome to assist, we are expecting most of the volunteers to come via Broadfield, Tilgate and Pease Pottage”.

John Braidley and Rachel Wickerson will be heading up the work on the dam, lake and landscape. John said “we have already done alot of work on the dam but the spillway needs further restructuring. This work is vital to the surrounding offices and homes as when it rains the lake can and has overflowed, causing damage in various ways”.

Colin Hayler, Friends of Goffs Park Manager, came along to show his support and told us a project of this magnitude is feasible giving Goffs Park as a great example of what can and has been achieved.

Also present, in support of the project, were the local constabulary in the form of PCSO Ashleigh Hanlon, PCSO Aaron Arnold and Community Warden Team Leader Sandi Forsyth. They told us the park is currently being used by unsavoury persons who leave dangerous paraphernalia which is unsafe to the rest of the community, so they wholly support the plans in the hope this will stop.

Friends of Broadfield Park Meeting

It soon became clear from this meeting that everyone was singing from the same hymm sheet. The plans were drawn and another meeting was set for Thursday 29th October at 19:00 with the first action date as Saturday 14th November.

Everyone is welcome to get involved. The work will entail planting shrubs and doing general cleaning up of the park. It was suggested Thomas Bennett School might want to get some of the children involved, maybe as an after school activity, so they can look back when they are older and feel proud of their accomplishment.

Crawley Happy Times thinks this is going to be a splendid project which we would encourage anyone to get involved in. It was a pleasure to attend a meeting with so many enthusiastic and caring individuals who really want to make a difference in the community they live in. Some of the attendees are dog walkers and happily take a litter grabber and bin liners with them, placing all the rubbish they come across in black bin liners which are then placed at pick up points for the council workers to grab on their rounds. How brilliant! Great work