7,500 people sign up to save Charlton animal centre

Around 7,500 have signed a petition to keep Maryon Wilson Park’s animal centre open and 4,500 of those signatures were handed to ward councillor Allan MacCarthy at the protest.

The centre – which has run for 80 years since the first deer and ponies were donated by the Maryon-Wilson family - could see its £43,000 funding axed by Greenwich Council in April.

Friends of Maryon and Maryon Wilson Park chairman Tim Anderson said: “We're asking the council to continue the funding and we know they're exploring other ideas.”

He said: “The local council has run the centre for 80 years through world wars and deprivation. But this council may deprive people of it.”

Around 50 people protested, including Greenwich Pensioners’ Forum members and pupils from the Charlton and Thorntree schools, who, along with 40 other schools, regularly use the facility.

Cllr MacCarthy said: “A lot of people are working hard behind the scenes to do all they can to make sure this facility’s future is secured.”

Gary Dillon of Charlton Lane brought his seven-month-old son James to the protest.

He compared the proposed cut to a £4.8m sum recently spent on sports facilities in the borough including outdoor gyms and a BMX track in Hornfair Park.

Mr Dillon said: “For £1m they could keep this park running for the next 30 years.

“This park benefits more people from the community. It's part of Greenwich's legacy. It’s been here since I was a boy and I'm 50 now.”

Green Chain Walk estimates, 230,000 visit the park each year.

A Greenwich Council spokeswoman said the council was engaging with “people who have expressed an interest in the park to determine whether there is a sufficient level of community interest to increase local involvement in the park and eliminate the subsidy."

The petition will be handed over at an October 26 council meeting.

For more information visit friendsofmaryonparks.org