This letter is an almost exact copy (to the closest extent this platform permits) of the letter directed to the recipients in Lewisham Council.

It is presented here so that those who could benefit from the upkeep of the space can co-sign it, and ir is also to help give an idea of the collective interest of this within the neighbourhood and the users of the space aforementioned.

The images embedded in the original document can't be included here in the same way, nor as hyperlinks, so I have provided the links to the images, uploaded separately.

"Dear Obajimi Adefiranye, Sophie McGeevor and Stephen Penfold,

I hope this letter finds you well.

My name is Cristina; I am one of your Lewisham constituents, and I am writing to you regarding the state of the space known as “the blue square” situated on Broadway Fields, in 27 Brookmill Rd, Deptford.

I am a local rollerskater, and Broadway Fields has and continues to be one of the most common spots for local skaters; the main reason being that it resembles the rink experience with its flat, open surface, which allows for a wide variety of skating styles, unlike squares, streets or skateparks. The overall design of the space is very well thought and allows different kinds of people to undertake different activities, and its location makes it an area of less footfall than other areas in which skaters practice.

Even some of those who have moved further away still come to it, due to its many virtues for the activity!

Due to the pandemic, the habits of the population have been altered to cope with the unusual situation, and as you probably know, there has been a surge on roller skating: every day we meet adults and kids who have recently started to practice it; people who, like me, have done it for a while and have rekindled whilst gyms are closed; the surge in interest has been such that some roller skate stores worldwide have been out of stock consistently and have had to spread production to meet demand …

Here is a recent article on it, for reference:

How roller skating became London’s unlikely lockdown saviour | Evening Standard:

standard.co.uk/escapist/roller-skating-london-lock...

The roller skating community has always been and will continue to be a very diverse and welcoming space that brings together people of so many different backgrounds, ages, sizes, abilities, etc. as it is more accessible than other types of skating or sports that can be more physically demanding or carry more risks, allowing more people to enter the wheel based hobby.

As an example, many choose roller skating over jogging, as they share health benefits but skating is gentler on the joints.

Despite of this, public spaces designed exclusively for this purpose are scarce or non-existent: either small spaces in streets and parks which puts us in the way of pedestrians or traffic, or skateparks which require certain skill.

Going back to the issue at hand, since summer 2020 I have noticed a fast deterioration of this blue square in Broadway Fields, as every time it rains I can see less blue paint, and I can feel more grit under my wheels as it seems the surface is eroding away. It also has a dent on one of the corners that can lead to unpleasant falls.

Here is a screen shot of how the square looked in September 2020 on Google maps:

*Google maps satellite view of Broadway Fields in September '20:

https://imgur.com/gARhH5U

Against some pictures I took with my phone on 19th February 2021:

*Picture 1 (wet, uneven surface): https://imgur.com/XKJXGm6

*Picture 2 (scorching paint): https://imgur.com/MNAjqLA

*Picture 3 (gritty surface): https://imgur.com/iRtS7Ji

*Picture 4 (walnut sized hole): https://imgur.com/8VYW5Ej

Hopefully the wet patches will also show how the surface has become uneven, as well as the discolouration of the surface, and the roughness of the spots where the paint is gone.

I write this letter on behalf of myself and my ever-growing community of skaters to kindly ask that you consider investing in it in order to restore or upgrade this wonderful space, as in the local area there aren’t many more spaces as fitting as this one.

In the ideal scenario where an upgrade was considered and/ or within budget, I would wholeheartedly suggest using polished free form concrete, such as the one used for Folkestone Gardens skatepark, as it is the best material in terms of qualities and durability. Although it might seem more costly, it is the best option in the long run.

I make this request under the absolute conviction that such a repair will only bring benefits to our local community and to make this tangible I have shared this as an open letter so those interested in this issue can co-sign with me, you can see it here*.

To finalise, I would like to invite you to come and meet us there some day, so we can show you what joy roller skating brings to skaters and those around them.

I look forward to hearing from you, and in the meantime wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

C A."

*"here" is meant to be the link to this very letter, which I can't do until I publish it.