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Mega Monopoly Competition Winners Announced

1 August 2008

The new Mega Monopoly featuring the Elephant and Castle was produced as a limited edition game and only available in the shops until the end of 2007.  To celebrate, earlier this year we launched a competition for you to win one of these sought after games. 

Congratulations to the following two winners:

Rebecca L, SE17
Sadie S (aged 12), SE19

These entries gave the most innovative but practical answers to the questions.   

Rebecca L, SE17
What three things do you like best about Elephant and Castle?
1.  The sense of history on the cusp of the future.

2.  The cafe in Tiendas del Sur. (Apologies for the almost certain misspelling). It is like taking a trip to Columbia. We like the 'local' food and the staff always greet us with a smile and a welcome in Spanish. They haven't yet resorted to speaking English to us, instead they respond encouragingly to our 'Fritalish'. (My partner speaks French, I speak Italian, and the cafe staff take the trouble to teach us Spanish.)

3. The transformation of St Mary's Churchyard. I have lived within a mile of it for the greater part of 24 years yet I had never been in it or wanted to do so. I almost believe in miracles now I have seen this change. It has proved positive for all ages not just the youngsters who play on the playground but also for the chap in his 80s who said he now walks through it to the Elephant almost every day.

What three things would you most like to see as part of the regeneration programme?
1.  A 'must photograph'/landmark meeting place such as a huge clock with a Glockenspiel with characters that relate to the history of the area.

2.  Something like the Fish Trail in Hull  a walking route marked out on the ground that leads you to points of interest in the area which combines history with humour.

3. An figure of eight 'active visitor trail' around which you can skate and cycle (and which is safe enough to learn to skate/cycle on) and which is long enough to have a sense of achievement at the end. I would be a destination for locals and people from further afield. Skating is big on the Continent. We are (sorry) dragging our heels over it. It would attract publicity , visitors, and business - bike/skate hire.

[Can I add a no. 4? Public toilets. The lack of public toilet facilities in parts of London is shameful and reduces the attraction/possibility of enjoyment of an area for some people. 

Sadie S (aged 12)
What three things do you like best about Elephant and Castle?
1. The new St Mary’s Churchyard Park is great.  It is amazing because it was just grass and now there is more to do and it looks a lot better.  When I used to go past no one used to go in there but now I always see children playing and people sitting on the grass.  I think it has already changed the area and can’t wait to see what the rest of the regeneration project is going to do.

2.  I love the history of the area and all the famous people who lived here like Charlie Chaplin.   I was reading about St Mary’s Churchyard in Quarter 04, and learnt so much.  I could not believe it was first mentioned in the Doomsday book over 900 years ago. 

3.  I love the murals in the subways.  I think they are a great as they make it more interesting and nicer to walk through.  They also make it easier if you get lost as they have different designs.

What three things would you most like to see as part of the regeneration programme?
1. I think there should be a water feature in the new civic square or market, either like the modern ones near London Bridge, which are big shapes which have a thin layer of water running over them, or a fountain.  I think there could be a great fountain using an elephant that sprayed water from its trunk.  People could meet here and have lunch in the summer.  The sound of the water would be relaxing.

2. I think there should be a farm/petting zoo/wildlife area like Mudchute farm in Docklands with rabbits, goats, chickens and pigs.  This would be great for children and in the area to look after the animals and wildlife and learn about responsibility.  People could also visit and enjoy the area. 

3. I would like to see an ice skating rink.  The nearest one is Streatham which is horrible.   People of all ages from all over the South East could come and have fun and it might encourage people to do it professionally.

I think a lot of the regeneration of the Elephant is for adults with shops, apartments and cafes, but you should remember that there are also lots of children who want things to do.

*A contact phone number will also need to be included with your entry.

£1.5bn Elephant and Castle can be bought for £30

Aspiring property moguls all over the country will be buying hotels and houses in Elephant and Castle this Christmas.

But this particular property boom won't be triggered by the boardroom meetings of chief executives - it will be sparked by families sitting around the table for a game of festive Mega Monopoly.

This year the world's best-selling board game now also comes as an expanded edition called Monopoly, the Mega Edition, and Elephant and Castle is one of eight new places to be included on the board.

The Elephant square sits next to Whitechapel and Old Kent Road, and each one costs just £60 in Monopoly money. Other newcomers include Saville Row and Knightsbridge.

But those who have already played the new game in Southwark anticipate the price rising as the real Elephant develops around them.

Southwark Council's former executive member for regeneration Cllr Richard Thomas, Major Projects Director Stephen McDonald, and two local residents Anne Boyles and Jade Jarrett, 11, enjoyed a game laid out on the floor of the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre (picture attached).

And although all four players are proud to be on the Monopoly map, in a few years' time they plan to contact Winning Moves - the company behind the expanded game - to get the square shifted from the cheapest brown colour, to the more up-market green or blue.

Cllr Thomas said: "It is fantastic to get on the board, and this really shows that Elephant and Castle is recognised all over the country as an iconic place. But I soon expect the real Elephant to be worth a lot more than the current price tag.

"Our £1.5billion regeneration of the area will turn it into a jewel in the crown of one of the best cities on the globe, and people all over the world will know the Elephant as a fantastic place to live, as well as a square on one of the best-selling board games."

Anne, 84, who has lived in Southwark all her life, has been playing the original game for an impressive 60 years.

She said: "It's quite an achievement to see the Elephant and Castle on the board, and it shows that we really are an up and coming area."

"It's encouraging to see the regeneration work progressing. Every week I see the changes they are making, like at St Mary's Churchyard, which is being turned into a new park."

The £1.5 billion Elephant and Castle regeneration programme is one of the largest schemes of its kind to be undertaken in Europe, covering a total of 170 acres in the heart of London and providing thousands of new homes and jobs.

Monopoly was invented in America at the height of the Great Depression in 1935, but today is sold in 103 countries and produced in 37 languages. It is estimated that around 750 million people have played the game worldwide.