Walthamstow Wetlands Consultation

I attended the Walthamstow Wetlands Consultation facilitated by the London Wildlife Trust. Although there was no presentation there was ample opportunity to discuss the proposals with their representatives. There were no detailed plans and I made the point that if we are to believe this is a real consultation then the information, that must have been assembled for the lottery bid, should be made available to the public.

I emphasised that an entry point needs to be provided in Coppermill Lane and the Coppermill opened for public access. It is likely to be a bird watching point and a dance studio/art gallery or some such community use. The Visitor Centre will be the old engine room at the main entrance opposite the Ferry Boat Inn pub. I also suggested the site could be opened up now by a simple advert saying visitors were welcome. A pelican crossing needs to be installed across Forest Road.

I made it clear the community does not want the site "disneyfied" and the wildlife needed to be given priority over public access, having said that it is a very large site so it should not be too difficult to arrange areas to be left undisturbed for the wildlife. A major negotiation that will have to be carried out is how the site will be funded in the long term. To open up the site money will be provided by various bodies including the lottery, but how and who will run it is subject to debate!


Walthamstow Wetlands