A NEW community group is being set up to canvass for more toilets, road improvements and other issues in South Park.

Two members of Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association (DRARA) are joining seven other residents to represent the views of people who use the park.

The Friends of South Park group aims to support activities and developments in South Park, East Oxford.

The group will hold its official constitution meeting in November. An initial meeting was held in July, and the group is on the lookout for more members.

Elizabeth Mills, chairwoman of DRARA, said she is excited about being a member of the new committee.

She said: “We need to find people with particular expertise and people from a fairly wide range of backgrounds.”

Mark Redhead, treasurer of DRARA, is also in the new group.

The Friends of South Park will consider Oxford City Council’s Sites and Housing Plan, which has earmarked sites near the park to develop for new housing and other uses. An old city council depot at the top of the park near Cheney School could be developed as student housing.

The group also plans to tell the park’s oral history and share it with local residents.

Chairwoman and founding member of Friends of South Park, Susanna Bowles, said the group wants to influence “positive change”.

She said: “One of our important projects is to address the lack of toilet facilities in the park.

“We have concerns about the future of the depot at the top of the park, the state of the pedestrian access at the top and have plan to improve the fitness trail within the park.”

She added that she was initially motivated because of the lack of information available to local residents.”

“We would like everyone to be involved: East Oxford residents and South Park users from across Oxford and further afield,” she said.

The first AGM is on November 13 at St Clement’s Family Centre in Cross Street, East Oxford from 6.30pm. For information email friendsofsouthpark@gmail.com