A wave of support on social media looks likely to have secured continued public access to formal gardens outside Nonsuch Mansion House.

It comes after concerns that overuse of the formal gardens next to the mansion in Nonsuch Park, was damaging the grass and disrupting the tranquillity of the area.

Under an old bye-law the lawns are off-limits to the public, but a laissez-faire approach to the rule means families regularly sit on them, and young children play there through much of the year.

Members of the Nonsuch Watch, an environmental group committed to preserving the park, contacted Cheam councillor Mary Burstow recently to share their anxieties.

The mansion often hosts weddings, and ‘Keep off the Grass’ signs were put in place earlier in the year to prevent picnickers from ruining their wedding photos.

Dogs, ball games, scooters, and bikes are barred in the grounds behind the mansion.

Coun Burstow is also chair of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee, which is made up of three Sutton councillors and three Epsom and Ewell councillors, who meet up four times a year to discuss issues affecting the park.

According to the Sutton councillor one member of the Nonsuch Watch wrote to say the park was 'huge' and that 'the reason it was a nice lawn, was that for years people were not allowed on it and it was maintained as part of the gardens'.

But their concerns were met with a wave of opposition from parents and park users, after Coun Burstow posted on the Malden Road Association and What’s On in Cheam Facebook pages on October 8, asking people to give their views on the issue.

Caroline Pendrill, who takes her children to Nonsuch Park, took to Facebook to voice her support for access to the gardens.

She said: "As a parent it is wonderful to have a such a beautiful space on the doorstep where our children can play and roam safely either on the lawns or in the woods.

"The garden is in immaculate condition despite its many visitors.

"I have never seen any littering or anti-social behaviour."

Emma Dallimore posted: "We use this area a lot with our little ones, it brings great joy to them.

"A few weeks ago we sat on the grass as a family and listened to music being played at the mansion for a wedding. It was a wonderful afternoon."

Coun Burstow’s post on the Malden Road Association website has received 31 comments since it went live, with 19 people arguing the public should still have use of the grounds.

The remaining posts were general remarks or discussion points, with none of the comments arguing that access should be restricted.

The What’s On in Cheam post has since been removed, but at the last count it had received 92 comments, with the vast majority in favour of allowing people to use the grounds.

Coun Burstow recognised on her website www.cheam.mycouncillor.org.uk that the majority of Facebook users would be younger than 60, and so many of those opposed wouldn’t have been able to make their views known through social media.

Last Friday she posted a statement on her site summarising her views: "The joint management committee will need to decide if it is an appropriate use of officer time to write a report on an issue, which the public have made clear they hold firm opinions on. 

"In a time of budget cuts and austerity is it appropriate to even consider diverting funds from important services to pay for park keepers to enforce 'Keep off the Grass signs'?

"I do not think it is."

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