Kingston Council recently carried out extensive works to Victoria Recreation Ground, locking the Effingham Road gate for around 18 months and causing considerable inconvenience. A fence was erected around half of the park, and turfing carried out across the middle where people used to walk, presumably so local residents couldn't use the park to its full extent, for no apparent reason. Within a few weeks the fence was being kicked down and residents were again walking across the park on their way to Surbiton.