Group hopes for Fairfield revival (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon council want residents to contribute their ideas for Fairfield area

9:10am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

A contemporary revival of the original fair that gave Fairfield its name is taking place this weekend.

The event, titled ‘The Opening’, will be held on Saturday 6 October from 2pm to 8pm. It takes place behind the Arnhem Gate, between Croydon College and the Fairfield Halls.

Croydon’s old Tudor Fair Field used to be at the heart of business and leisure for the area, with cattle markets and entertainment providing work and play for local people.

It is now home to a car park, the College and Fairfield Halls.

The Decorators, the group behind ‘The Opening’ want the event to be a new twist on planning consultation meetings.

Entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening will be combined with opportunities for people to share their ideas about the future of the area.

Councillor Jason Perry, cabinet member for planning, regeneration and transport, said: “This is a real demonstration of how planners can do more than just draw sketches to help people imagine what an area might be used for in the future.

"Right now this space is just a bare concrete canvas. The Opening event will let people paint us a picture of what they want us to do there.”

Alongside workshops on how to start a grassroots community project there will be a brass band, jazz and a dubstep DJ.

There will also be a five-a-side football competition and some pulled pork from Surrey Street’s Mad-Ass food collective.

Carolina Caicedo, co-founder of the Decorators, said the event will be a chance to bring the community together.

She said: “We want to actively demonstrate the possibilities for new activities in the underused spaces of Croydon.

“This event has been a long time coming and we are very glad it is finally taking place.

“It is only a seed event but we hope that the process has set things in motion that will enable more events to take place and we hope it opens up a dialogue between the community and the council.”