£400k up for grab at two Havering Parks

Two Havering parks, Harrow Lodge Park in Hornchurch and Central Park in Harold Hill, are in line to win a £400,000 makeover if Havering residents give them their votes in the Mayor of London's 'Help a London Park' scheme.

As part of the Priority Parks programme, the Mayor will award grants of up to £400,000 for improvement programmes in ten needy parks across the capital to make them cleaner, safer, greener and nicer places to visit.

The competition will be keenly contested. Forty-seven parks in five sub-regions have been nominated, and the two parks from each of the five sub-regions receiving the most votes will win the grants. In Havering the parks you can vote for are:

Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch

Harrow Lodge is located on the River Ravensbourne flood plain. The river runs in a concrete channel through the park. If we win a grant:

• the ugly concrete slabs along the river would disappear;

• soft river banks would be restored;

• attractive wetland plants would be established;

• the lake would be improved;

• information panels would tell people about the park's natural heritage.

Central Park, Harold Hill

Central Park is the main park for Harold Hill and the area's focus for recreation and social regeneration. It's a busy local park, much visited and appreciated by local people. If we're successful the grant will help:

• improve the landscape;

• create wild flower meadows;

• plant hundreds of spring bulbs;

• improve management of the woodland;

• create opportunities for natural play;

• install lighting where it's needed most;

• provide new litter bins to encourage people to keep the park clean.

All we need now is for Havering residents to get behind our parks by casting their votes, which couldn't be easier. There are several ways to vote:

Online at www.london.gov.uk/parksvote Text parks and your postcode to 62967. This will automatically vote for the nearest park to where you live. Texts cost 10p plus your standard network rate. Call 020 7983 4100 or email parksvote@london.gov.uk for a voting card.You can also pop into any Havering library to vote online.

Voting closes on Friday 30 January 2009, so spread the word and encourage your friends and family to cast their votes. Every vote matters and all members of your family can vote too. Help us to makeover your local park!!