Users of Maryon Wilson Park have joined the criticism of Greenwich Council’s plans to withdraw funding from its animal centre.

Council chiefs want to seek sponsorship for the centre, which employs one member of staff and costs £43,000 each year.

The Friends of Maryon and Maryon Wilson Parks said it was “shocked” to hear the council wanted to withdraw funding for the centre, which includes sheep, goats, exotic ducks and wild fowl, horses and deer.

It said the centre was regularly used by local schools and play schemes, as well as adults from day centres.

Group chairman Tim Anderson said: “Withdrawing funding completely from this unique popular centre is disproportionate to the cuts the council needs to make. A 100% cut in funding is way beyond the 20% required by the Government.

“We urge the council to reconsider this cut and commit to keeping the animals in the park until alternative-funding arrangements can be made.

“We expect that there will be very strong feelings against the possible closure and that there will be a campaign against the loss of this special family-orientated facility.”

There’s more at the Friends website.

Maryon Wilson Park’s animal centre could face closure if it cannot find a sponsor, according to Greenwich Council’s cuts proposals.

The centre currently employs just one full-time member of staff, and costs the council £43,000 a year to run. It plans to seek sponsorship for the centre from April 2012.

“If sponsorship cannot be secured, the only alternative will be closure of the centre,” council officers warn in a document distributed to councillors.

The proposal is just one of a huge range of savings proposed by the council as it responds to the cutting of grants from central government.

Parking in Charlton – as well as Blackheath and Greenwich – is likely to become more expensive, with free parking bays across the area abolished and charges brought in. There is also a proposal to levy a £5 matchday parking charge near The Valley – although there are no details available on how this would work.

Charlton House’s tea room is set to lose its £8,000 a year subsidy – but would remain open.

Councillors will meet to discuss the proposals on Thursday evening at Woolwich Town Hall. All three Charlton ward councillors – Janet Gillman, Allan MacCarthy and Gary Parker – are on the overview and scrutiny committee charged with studying the plans, along with Peninsula ward representative Dick Quibell.