If you do want swings I think there are still some in Baxter's Field, off Thorpewood Avenue. I can't really remember swings ever being in the Horniman Triangle, but my wife can, so my memory from 25 years ago may not be perfect.

You can make your views about local parks known to the council through their consultation at http://www.strategicleisure.co.uk/lewisham.htm

There were swings there until about 25 days ago Michael. Great big arcing swings actually, high enough to have preceded whatever legislation on playgrounds has meant their height should now not exceed 5'. My little boy loved them like I remember loving them.

I'd never heard of Baxters Fields, so will check this out. Thanks, Michael.
The point about the purpose of swings is that they are usually preferred by younger children, in fact they are usually the first playground experience a young child will have. So necessary they are!

Thank you Councillor Wise for providing an outline of Lewisham?s new plans for Forest Hill's Play Park. Regarding the proposed demolition of the toilet block, whilst the building has been locked up for some time, the toilets inside are fully functional and only require refurbishment. Why should Forest Hill?s Play Park be deprived of these essential facilties when Sydenham Wells Park for example have got them?

Madness to remove the loo's. There are no public loo's in Forest Hill since the last lot were converted into flats!!! Where can one spend a penny legally these days.

There are toilets in Horniman gardens and in Horniman museum, both are relatively close to the Horniman Triangle. But I have to agree that it is a shame that a park specifically designed for children does not have toilet facilities included within it.

There is also a pay-as-you-pee toilet in the station car park.

Sainsbury's has loos - they're at the top of the back staircase/lift lobby.

Back to the topic of this thread - the Horniman Triangle Play Park. The loos here are not redundant. They still exist but have been locked up. They simply need refurbishment. Michael, you cannot have any experience of young children - when they need to go,they mean "right now". Part of the funding for updating the Play Park should be spent on restoring these very necessary facilities.

I do have experience of young children - I was one when I used this park. And I know that they can usually wait to cross a road, unless young children's bladders have changed since I was one.

I did say "it is a shame that a park specifically designed for children does not have toilet facilities included within it". Parents do not want to leave one child while they cross the South Circular to deal with the other. But then again the toilets are not much further from the play area than those within Dulwich Park are from the play area there - same with Greenwich Park, and I am not sure where the toilets are in Mayow Park but I think there is still a childrens' play area there.

I don't disagree with the need for the toilet, although I think we should look at other parks before concluding that it is vital in this situation. I do disagree with the assertion that there are "no public loo's in Forest Hill".

Ah yes, public toilets! When I was a kid there was always a public loo close by, both in the high street and in the parks. Unfortunately due to vandalism, 'George Michael' type activities and the lack of an attendant, they have all been closed down. Shame.

I'm not sure you're right about the public loos, Michael- I can't think of any in FH except the one at the station which is pretty unsightly( if in fact its still there).

However, back to the play park; as I said in an earlier posting, these improvements sound excellent but only if its accompanied by some sort of imaginative management as it would be a shame if the facilities were vandalised or the dog mess problem is not dealt with as the latter does make the entire facility unusable. The residents of the adjacent houses do use this area for walking their dogs.

Are there proposals for better management of this area?

There used to be public toilets on the corner of Davids Rd opposite the Hob.

How about the one in Horniman Park and Museum that I mentioned above?
The one in Sainsburys is not a public toilet, but it is there, in the middle of the high street. I make that four toilets within half a mile of each other.

The sainsbury's toilet is often locked and you have to find somneone with a key - in the mean time you've wet yourself. The toilet at the station looks very dubious - I wouldnt risk it. While it's not the done thing - pub toilets are often the best place for a quick pee. If you're with kids then obviously that's a different matter.

Yesterday I spoke to some people from council about the plans for the Horniman Triangle. They are currently demolishing one of the buildings which is in a very bad state and has asbestos, the other building will become a cafe with a couple of toilets.

The cafe will probably only be open during the summer months, and I expect that the toilets would not be open outside of these times. But during the summer, when the park sees most use by children, there will be a cafe with toilets.

Thanks Michael, that's good news indeed!

Yes, very positive news - great stuff!

Sold as a flat for about 160k two years or so ago, as I recall.

Right everyone if we could just get back to the subject at hand..................Thank you. I know that certain safety issues would have to be investigated but could we scrap the swings idea and look at the possibility of a big trampoline. If I was in the intended age group I know which I'd prefer, actually I'd probably use it myself and how many of you lot can honestly say otherwise?