At last night's public meeting the WF Civic Society agreed to support the inclusion on the list of Community Assets the Hare and Hounds Pub and the Hornbeam centre. They are looking for additional community assets to give this protection to so if you feel a community facility needs protecting do let them know.
List your Local
WALTHAM FOREST - ONE COMMUNITY This Blog provides information about our Community in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Please send your contributions to wfoc10@gmail.com
Friday, 25 July 2014
Footpath update
Almost there after over 20 years of waiting!!!
Dear Sam,
Yesterday evening I was delighted to be able walk from Walthamstow Central 'up side' booking hall, through the station car park, Ray Dudley Way and Edison Close right up to the new station entrance which, of course, was still closed.
Could you or other LOROL staff please liaise with London Borough of Waltham Forest with a view to opening the Edison Close station entrance as soon as possible. I understand that the suspected defect issue has been resolved and hopefully the legal aspects will have been also resolved by now.
Kind regards
Glenn
Glenn Wallis
Secretary
Barking - Gospel Oak Rail User Group
@RidingtheGoblin
New river crossing consultation
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Crossrail2 to come to St.James Street?
TFL and Crossrail 2
Crossrail 2
Is anyone else making a connection, or rather disconnection, between what can be read about the delayed re-opening of the Lea Bridge railway station and the Cross-Rail possible tunnel portal on the Marshes?
I am concerned that these two significant public transport projects seem to be being pursued separately. I have seen no cases being made about the possible impact of the one on the other. This is extraordinary, since Lea Bridge station is on the Tottenham Hale - Stratford line, and the Cross-Rail proposal involving the tunnel portal on the Marshes is also a line into Tottenham Hale.
Waltham Forest Cabinet on 15th July voted a total of £5m to support the Lea Bridge Station re-opening, see http://democracy.
It looks pretty poor - the reason given for the increase in the costs was that the TfL rail consultants gave underestimates for platform and lift construction not having visited the track location. No surprise that they also failed to see the Japanese knotweed embellishing the currrent platform. Worse still, it seems that TfL were willing for the project to stall, had WF not stumped up the cash.
Does anyone have any thoughts about what's behind TfL's apparent loss of interest in the Lea Bridge station project and what could happen in worst case scenarios?
Claire W.
How about this from Stella Creasy's newsletter
Crossrail 2
Is anyone else making a connection, or rather disconnection, between what can be read about the delayed re-opening of the Lea Bridge railway station and the Cross-Rail possible tunnel portal on the Marshes?
I am concerned that these two significant public transport projects seem to be being pursued separately. I have seen no cases being made about the possible impact of the one on the other. This is extraordinary, since Lea Bridge station is on the Tottenham Hale - Stratford line, and the Cross-Rail proposal involving the tunnel portal on the Marshes is also a line into Tottenham Hale.
Waltham Forest Cabinet on 15th July voted a total of £5m to support the Lea Bridge Station re-opening, see http://democracy.
It looks pretty poor - the reason given for the increase in the costs was that the TfL rail consultants gave underestimates for platform and lift construction not having visited the track location. No surprise that they also failed to see the Japanese knotweed embellishing the currrent platform. Worse still, it seems that TfL were willing for the project to stall, had WF not stumped up the cash.
Does anyone have any thoughts about what's behind TfL's apparent loss of interest in the Lea Bridge station project and what could happen in worst case scenarios?
Claire W.
How about this from Stella Creasy's newsletter
Crossrail2 Comes to E17: Crossing St James Street?
Following concerns raised by local residents, I have recently been in contact with Transport for London and Network rail with regards to the proposed Cross Rail 2 pathway. This is currently under consultation and plans released suggest there is a possibility this could be scheduled to tunnel under Walthamstow marsh or parallel behind St James Street.
This means that there is potential that Cross Rail may impact the St James area. I have been assured by TFL that if this suggestion is developed further, once a more detailed plan and route has been produced a consultation would take place with the residents of St James’ street towards the end of 2015. I will of course keep residents updated as and when I have further information on this and the consultation proposals.
Waltham Forest Echo - out now
Dear All,
I'm getting in touch to let you know that issue one of Waltham Forest Echo, a new quarterly community newspaper for Waltham Forest, is out now.
Our Walthamstow-based social enterprise, Social Spider CIC, is publishing Waltham Forest Echo on behalf of WellComm CIC, a social enterprise formed by charities and social enterprises in the borough.
It is available online here: http://walthamforestecho.co.
The print version is just back from the printers. If your organisation/shop/cafe/pub would like some copies to distribute email us onWFEcho@socialspider.com saying how many copies you want and where we should deliver them to.
Please pass this info on to others who may be interested.I'm getting in touch to let you know that issue one of Waltham Forest Echo, a new quarterly community newspaper for Waltham Forest, is out now.
Our Walthamstow-based social enterprise, Social Spider CIC, is publishing Waltham Forest Echo on behalf of WellComm CIC, a social enterprise formed by charities and social enterprises in the borough.
The aim of the newspaper is to promote the work of local community organisations and voluntary sector groups, along with arts and cultural activities taking place in the local area and provide an opportunity for local people to express their opinions on what is going in the area.
Issue one includes features on the mini-Holland scheme and the E17 Arts Trail, as well articles on housing and education.
Issue one includes features on the mini-Holland scheme and the E17 Arts Trail, as well articles on housing and education.
It is available online here: http://walthamforestecho.co.
We're also on Twitter @WFEcho - https://twitter.com/WFEcho
Cheers,
David
Social Spider
--
David Floyd
Managing Director
Social Spider
The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane
Walthamstow
London, E17 7HA
Office: 020 8521 7956
Mobile: 07789 778 085
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
Social Spider - Community Interest Company
Helping People Make Change Happen
Green Flag for Lloyd Park
To: "Ellie Mortimer" <Ellie.Mortimer@walthamforest.
Cc:
Cc:
Hello everyone,
I'm very happy to tell you all that Lloyd Park has achieved Green Flag status again this year.
Thank you very much to everyone who helped make sure the park looked at its best, or helped impress the judges.
I'd be grateful if you could pass on the good news and our thanks to everyone that helps to make Lloyd Park such a fantastic park.
Kind regards,
I'm very happy to tell you all that Lloyd Park has achieved Green Flag status again this year.
Thank you very much to everyone who helped make sure the park looked at its best, or helped impress the judges.
I'd be grateful if you could pass on the good news and our thanks to everyone that helps to make Lloyd Park such a fantastic park.
Kind regards,
Ellie Mortimer
Lloyd Park Community Project Co-ordinator
020 8496 2822 07530 072 216
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
Low Hall Depot, Argall Avenue, Leyton, E10 7AS
.JPG)
Lloyd Park Community Project Co-ordinator
020 8496 2822 07530 072 216
www.walthamforest.gov.uk/
Low Hall Depot, Argall Avenue, Leyton, E10 7AS
.JPG)
Democracy on its way out in Redbridge
Think yourself lucky you don't live in Redbridge where democracy appears to be on the way out.
Redbridge abandons public committees
Puting Waltham Forest on the map
Why is everyone moving to Waltham Forest
Professor Tony Travers is a British academic and journalist, specialising in issues affecting local government. He is the director of "LSE London", a research group at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He recently wrote a report for the council urging them to improve the image of WF. The Walthamstow Garden Party and the recently published Waltham Forest IS LONDON magazine (distributed with WFN) is the council's attempt to make WF "cool". As a senior council official said to me today it will be good for house prices - already up 26% this year.
So what will happen to those in the rented sector as the Borough becomes yupified?
Growth Commission Report
View from Katy
This is interesting. It is a very good indication of how disjointed the Borough is - though he doesmn't really understand why, and the only person he seems to have asked is Cllr Coghill who has scarcely lived here much longer than he has.
The Independent used to be, so it seems a bit odd that his interviewees are Cllrs Coghill and Robbins, Stella Creasy MP and a bloke who thinks Stella's the greatest thing since powdered milk.
If you want to understand Chingford and why it is so different, you'd really have to talk to at least one Conservative Councillor, I should have thought?
The rivaly between Leyton and Walthamstow goes back to the 17th century in well-documented incidents on the Marshes,and probably goes back a lot further than that.
Waltham Forest was never going to work, and it never has worked. And it probably never will.
Professor Tony Travers is a British academic and journalist, specialising in issues affecting local government. He is the director of "LSE London", a research group at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He recently wrote a report for the council urging them to improve the image of WF. The Walthamstow Garden Party and the recently published Waltham Forest IS LONDON magazine (distributed with WFN) is the council's attempt to make WF "cool". As a senior council official said to me today it will be good for house prices - already up 26% this year.
So what will happen to those in the rented sector as the Borough becomes yupified?
Growth Commission Report
View from Katy
This is interesting. It is a very good indication of how disjointed the Borough is - though he doesmn't really understand why, and the only person he seems to have asked is Cllr Coghill who has scarcely lived here much longer than he has.
The Independent used to be, so it seems a bit odd that his interviewees are Cllrs Coghill and Robbins, Stella Creasy MP and a bloke who thinks Stella's the greatest thing since powdered milk.
If you want to understand Chingford and why it is so different, you'd really have to talk to at least one Conservative Councillor, I should have thought?
The rivaly between Leyton and Walthamstow goes back to the 17th century in well-documented incidents on the Marshes,and probably goes back a lot further than that.
Waltham Forest was never going to work, and it never has worked. And it probably never will.
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Hoe Street Ward Community Forum
Report of Hoe Street Ward Forum meeting
21st July 2014
About 30 residents attended and the first item was a leaflet
about Healthwatch Waltham Forest who want to hear about residents views on
various health and social issues
The Chair of the Safer Neighbourhood Watch gave an upbeat
report and urged residents to volunteer to join the board which provides the
police with its priorities.
Landlord and Letting Agents Licencing was the next topic. Waltham
Forest will be introducing a licencing scheme from next April applying 25
conditions on Landlords and non-compliance could lead to a £20k fine. The cost
of the licence has not yet been set, but with 24k landlords in the Borough it
is hoped residents will be better protected from rogue landlords.
CPZ – the ME zone around the Town Centre will be reviewed
due to the changes in the area i.e. the Scene. A consultation in September will
last 3 weeks. One possibility would be to split the ME zone as currently residents
drive from one side to the other to park.
Mini Holland – Chris Harrison asked the audience if they had
heard of this project and most had not. He went on to explain that it is
intended to increase cycling in the Borough and to improve residential streets.
The Mayor had pledged £30m over 3 years to Waltham Forest and the creation of
segregated cycle lanes in Lea Bridge Road was a key target. A route along the
line of Forest Road to Lea Bridge road was aimed at cutting down on rat
running. The first area to be investigated was Pembroke Road/Hoe Street and the
railway. He wanted to speak to residents groups rather than individuals and
wants views within 6 weeks. Despite great interest from the audience no further
discussion was allowed.
Milton Road Residents Association gave a very upbeat report
pointing out that since their inception about 5 other groups have formed in the
adjacent area. They communicate via all means and bring residents together to
help each other and to provide fun events and a structure for looking out for
fellow residents.
Friday, 18 July 2014
Delay of a year in re-opening Lea Bridge Station
Dear Councillors
Following the response from Masood (for which thanks) I would urge those of you on the Cabinet to support the extra expenditure now declared as necessary to reopen our station.
Many thanks,
Claire Weiss
E10 7AR
Begin forwarded message:
Following the response from Masood (for which thanks) I would urge those of you on the Cabinet to support the extra expenditure now declared as necessary to reopen our station.
Many thanks,
Claire Weiss
E10 7AR
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on O2
From: Cllr Masood Ahmad <Cllr.Masood.Ahmad@
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:03:02 +0000
To: Claire Weiss<claireweiss@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fwd: ME 054/07/2014 - FW: Lea Bridge railway station re-opening
Dear Claire
I am forwarding you the reply I received from the council.
I hope this will answer your questions.
Best Regards
Cllr M Ahmad
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Neil Bullen <Neil.Bullen@walthamforest.gov.uk>
Date: 15 July 2014 15:35:42 BST
To: Cllr Enquiries <Cllr.Enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk>
Cc: Sandra Abraham <Sandra.Abraham@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Masood Ahmad <Cllr.Masood.Ahmad@ walthamforest.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: ME 054/07/2014 - FW: Lea Bridge railway station re-opening
Dear Councillor AhmadThe Council is working with Network Rail and the train operator, Abellio Greater Anglia, to secure the reopening of Lea Bridge Station at the earliest possible time. The main reason for slippage in the programme is that the project cost has risen substantially. A report is being considered by Cabinet this evening 15 July to seek approval for additional funding to ensure that the full cost of the project can be met. Following the Cabinet decision, we propose to enter into a legal agreement with Network Rail to allow the main contractor to be appointed to construct the works.An additional delay has occurred because of the discovery of two patches of Japanese Knotweed on the existing platform which will have to be excavated during track possessions. The main works are programmed to start on site in January and the station will be open to passengers at the latest in December 2015.RegardsNeilNeil BullenManager Transport PlanningLondon Borough of Waltham ForestSycamore HouseWaltham Forest Town HallForest RoadLondon E17 4JFTel: 020 8496 6779From: Cllr Enquiries
Sent: 14 July 2014 17:44
To: Neil Bullen
Cc: Sandra Abraham; Cllr Masood Ahmad; Cllr Enquiries
Subject: ME 054/07/2014 - FW: Lea Bridge railway station re-openingME 054/07/2014Dear NeillPlease see the email below from Cllr Ahmad, in turn from Claire Weiss about the Lea Bridge Station. She asks why the project has supposedly been delayed until December 2015?ThanksKevin MaddenCouncillor Services AssistantGovernance DirectorateLB Waltham ForestTown Hall, Room 108Forest RoadWalthamstow E17 4JFFrom: Masood [mailto:cllr_m_ahmad@hotmail.com]
Sent: 12 July 2014 09:10
To: Cllr Enquiries
Subject: Fwd: Lea Bridge railway station re-openingCan we have answer please?Cllr M Ahmad
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:From: Claire Weiss <claireweiss@hotmail.com>
Date: 12 July 2014 08:26:19 BST
To: cllr masood ahmad <cllr.masood.ahmad@walthamforest.gov.uk>, "cllr_m_ahmad@hotmail.com" <cllr_m_ahmad@hotmail.com>
Cc: save marsh group <saveleytonmarsh@yahoogroups.co.uk>
Subject: Lea Bridge railway station re-openingDear Masood,
I have read in Stella Creasey's MP Newsletter today that the re-opening of Lea Bridge railway station is now delayed until December 2015. That is almost two years later than the original date we were promised at a Lea Bridge Community Ward Forum meeting back in 2013.
I recall that this project featured in your recent election manifesto as one of your achievements. Do you have any news about the reason(s) for the unbelievable delay? How can we get it reduced?
Claire Weiss
The state of UK Parks
To all London's Friends of Parks Forums and Groups - please forward to your groups and contacts...
'State of UK Public Parks 2014' - Renaissance to risk?
A new and shocking report which is wake up call for us allwww.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/StateUKParks.aspx#.U6vdxECuM8U
“This report on the alarming long-term crisis being caused by the underfunding of the UK's parks, so vital to every local community, is a shocking wake-up call which clearly necessitates immediate and effective national action.
The inspirational rise of the Friends Groups movement over the last 15 years has demonstrated the commitment of the public. We are now demanding an equivalent commitment from the Government to ensure adequate public resources for all green spaces, a statutory duty to manage these spaces to decent (Green Flag Awards) standards, and a national inquiry into these matters.
We will be responding to the report by launching a UK-wide public petition, and are also calling on all park users to back Love Parks Week at the end of July to demonstrate our love for our vital local green spaces."
- Sarah Royal and Dave Morris, National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces
New report from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) reveals growing risk that could see parks become run down ‘no go areas’ or even sold.
Today, 26th June, the Heritage Lottery Fund has published State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to risk? its first report to comprehensively review the condition and management of the UK’s public parks. Two decades of public and Lottery investment has ensured that the majority of UK parks are in better condition, but unless future funding is generated in new ways, parks are at serious risk of rapid decline and even being sold off and lost to the public forever.
Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said: “This report makes for sobering reading. Parks are highly valued, precious places that are vital to our physical and emotional well-being. Following decades of decline, Lottery funding sparked a parks renaissance but that is now at risk. We realise these are financially tough times and that is why we need collaborative action and a fresh approach to halt this threat of decline and stop this cycle of boom and bust. Our parks are far too important not to act now.”
Key findings from the research
Parks are under direct threat
- 86% of parks managers report cuts to revenue budgets since 2010, a trend they expect to continue over the next three years. This could mean: park facilities such as cafes and toilets are closed or opening hours reduced; grass left uncut, flower beds left empty, play areas less regularly cleaned and inspected and more anti-social behaviour due to less park staff
- 45% of local authorities are considering either selling parks and green spaces or transferring their management to others. This could mean: loss of some parks, parts of parks and other green spaces, management of parks being divided between different organisations, community groups being asked to take on larger parks and needing support to do so effectively
- 81% of council parks departments have lost skilled management staff since 2010 and 77% have lost front-line staff
Parks are one of the most highly used public assets
- With 34million people estimated to make regular visits parks are one of the UK’s most heavily used public services
- 68% of park users consider spending time in their local park as important or essential to their quality of life. This rises to 71% in urban areas and 81% for those with children under 10
- 70% of park managers have recorded increased visitor numbers to their principal parks over the last year
Trend towards greater community involvement
- In the past three years park managers have seen an increase of over 30% in the number of friends and park user groups and over half of expect this increase to continue
- 47% of park friends groups say membership numbers have increased over the last three years
- Community groups are playing an increasing role in championing and supporting parks - with an estimated £30million raised for parks annually by friends groups
Responding to the report Harry Bowell, Regional Director at the National Trust said: “We know people love being outdoors and some of their most treasured spaces to relax and play are those on their doorstep, their local parks and green spaces. This ground-breaking report from HLF is a wake-up call. The traditional model for funding public parks is breaking down and bold new ideas are needed. We want to help find solutions that could work in every city and town.”
Protecting £700m Lottery investment
Parks have enjoyed a twenty year renaissance as a result, in part, of £700million of Lottery investment. However, local authorities have no statutory requirement to fund and maintain them. Neither is there a national coordinating body able to champion the importance of parks, to assert their value to communities and the economy, and protect them for future generations to enjoy.
In addition to calling for continued investment by local authorities, HLF’s report highlights the need to develop new ways of looking after and funding parks. It highlights five key areas needing urgent joint action to ensure past investment is not wasted.
HLF pledges to:Finding new innovative ways to make the financing and management of parks sustainable is vital to ensuring their future. HLF and the Big Lottery Fund are working in partnership with the innovation charity Nesta on a Rethinking Parks programme. This is supporting organisations and partnerships to explore, test and scale new approaches to generating income for and managing parks. Shortly to be announced are grants totalling £1million that will enable a range of innovative park projects to be piloted. Full details will be announced in July 2014.
- Continue to monitor and report on the public parks across the UK it has invested in
- Invest in innovative ideas for making parks financially sustainable, through the Lottery and Nesta funded Rethinking Parks programme – details below
- Continue investing up to £24m each year across the UK through the Parks for People programme, with Big Lottery Fund providing an additional £10m per year in England until the end of 2015
- Commission and publish a second State of UK Public Parks report in 2016 to review progress
Lydia Ragoonanan, Rethinking Parks programme manager at Nesta: "Heritage Lottery Fund's report is very welcome and shines a light on the huge challenges facing our parks. We're excited to be supporting potential solutions to these challenges through the Rethinking Parks programme which will help parks to develop, test and share new ways to manage their parks. From membership schemes to pop-up meeting spaces and new horticultural techniques, we want to see if these ideas could help sustain our precious parks long into the future."
Two Rethinking Parks projects (full list of awardees to be announced in July 2014)
Endowing Parks for the 21st Century
National Trust, in partnership with Sheffield and Manchester local authoritiesThis project aims to develop and test ways to raise money for a ring-fenced endowment for public parks. It will explore how to attract and secure funds for the endowment from sources not typically used by parks, including: public giving; corporate giving; local public sector funding; and also investment in the ‘eco’ services that are provided by parks such as flood management and air quality.
Harry Bowell continued: “Our new project, funded by the Rethinking Parks programme, aims to harness the huge value and wide range of benefits that parks provide to demonstrate the potential of endowments in securing the future for public parks for everyone. There is a real prize out of this crisis to grow civic pride, connecting people to their local green spaces and giving communities more of a stake in shaping their future.
“We’re excited by the project and look forward to working with our partners in Sheffield and Manchester. Although this project is not about the National Trust owning public parks, it does go right back to the roots of the National Trust and campaigns by our founders to save urban green spaces in London.”
Go to the Park, Burnley - Towneley Park
Burnley Borough Council and NewgroundThis project will test new approaches to help cut costs and increase income in parks. These approaches may include managing grasslands in parks as meadows, introduction of bee farms, growing borage in wilder areas to produce starflower oil (used like Evening Primrose Oil) and managing woodland for wood fuel. A Volunteer in Parks programme (VIP) will also encourage community involvement.
Notes to editors
State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to risk? – To establish a national picture of the state of UK parks HLF commissioned three new UK-wide surveys: a survey of local authority park managers, a survey of park friends and user groups, and a public opinion survey undertaken by Ipsos MORI. The research has also drawn on other pre-existing data to assess how the condition of parks has changed over time, and to cross-check our results. A fuller research report is available on State of the UK Parks page.
This announcement can be followed on Twitter #StateOfUKParks.
Responses to the report
National TrustHarry Bowell, Regional Director at the National Trust said: “We know people love being outdoors and some of their most treasured spaces to relax and play are those on their doorstep, their local parks and green spaces. This ground-breaking report from HLF is a wake-up call. The traditional model for funding public parks is breaking down and bold new ideas are needed. We want to help find solutions that could work in every city and town.
“Our new project, funded by Nesta, aims to harness the huge value and wide range of benefits that parks provide to demonstrate the potential of endowments in securing the future for public parks for everyone. There is a real prize out of this crisis to grow civic pride, connecting people to their local green spaces and giving communities more of a stake in shaping their future.
“We’re excited by the project and look forward to working with our partners in Sheffield and Manchester. Although this project is not about the National Trust owning public parks, it does go right back to the roots of the National Trust and campaigns by our founders to save urban green spaces in London.”
RSPBDr Mike Clarke, RSPB CEO, said: “Parks are living links in our networks of green spaces which are so important for nature in our towns and cities. And they are where we can get close to wildlife near home and every day – important for adults, eye-opening for children. And we know from research that a connection to nature benefits children in education, health and social skills. Imaginatively managed parks can help species like house sparrow which have suffered dramatic population declines. At their best, our parks can become home for wildlife and great places for people to enjoy bees, birds, butterflies and much more.”
NestaLydia Ragoonanan, Rethinking Parks programme manager at Nesta: "Heritage Lottery Fund's report is very welcome and shines a light on the huge challenges facing our parks. We're excited to be supporting potential solutions to these challenges through the Rethinking Parks programme which will help parks to develop, test and share new ways to manage their parks. From membership schemes to pop-up meeting spaces and new horticultural techniques, we want to see if these ideas could help sustain our precious parks long into the future."
English HeritageSimon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "Parks and green spaces are the heart of our urban environments. Many of the best are of historic importance and investment in them should be sustained. Understanding their historic and social significance is crucial in spreading awareness of how important they are which is why English Heritage has carried out research to inform their care and protection."
The Wildlife TrustsStephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Wildlife Trusts have been involved in park management all over the UK for many years and played a key role in securing the beautiful long grass and meadows now present in many parks. Parks are an important part of our Living Landscape. Given we are using our land so hard in rural areas for agriculture, parks can also be genuine wildlife hotspots and of course a vital place for people to reconnect with nature and learn more about it. Being closer to nature enhances our lives. Our work adds to a growing body of evidence of nature’s benefit to our mental and physical health and well-being. In an urban culture parks are critical as our lungs and our spiritual nourishment. All the more when they are wildlife-rich.”
Greenspace ScotlandJulie Procter, Chief Executive Greenspace Scotland, said: “The State of UK Parks report is a clear alarm call for parks in Scotland and the UK. With the pressures on council budgets, difficult decisions on priorities have to be taken. This report should give us all cause to reflect on whether the right decisions are being made. What may have seemed relatively easy, low impact cost-savings on parks and greenspaces could have disproportionately negative and far-reaching impacts on our quality of life, our health and prosperity. We hope this report will be a timely wake-up call and provide an opportunity to look afresh at how our amazing park assets can be managed sustainably in partnership with councils, local communities and businesses. We call on the Scottish Government, local authorities, the voluntary sector, businesses and the public to heed this early warning and respond to the HLF’s call for urgent action.”
4 Children4Children Chief Executive, Anne Longfield OBE, said: “Parents tell us that parks make a real difference to family life. Green, open spaces are places where parents and their children can spend some quality time together outside and enjoy the different seasons. Parks are not just somewhere to play; they make communities great places to live in. Parks are especially important for families in poor housing without outdoor space or gardens and it is essential that parks are maintained and flourish – especially in more disadvantaged areas.”
Groundwork UKGraham Duxbury, Groundwork CEO, said: "Whether it’s a garden for quiet reflection, a place to get closer to nature or simply somewhere to kick a football about, green spaces play a vital role in our communities. They're places to treasure and we need to mobilise the public, private businesses and politicians to protect and improve them. When you have less money what you need more of is ideas. We now think it's urgent that all those with an interest and passion in our parks and green spaces to collaborate to develop new ways of working and funding this vital public service."
National Federation of Parks and Green SpacesSarah Royal and Dave Morris, National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces: “This report on the alarming long-term crisis being caused by the underfunding of the UK's parks, so vital to every local community, is a shocking wake-up call which clearly necessitates immediate and effective national action.
“The inspirational rise of the Friends Groups movement over the last 15 years has demonstrated the commitment of the public. We are now demanding an equivalent commitment from the Government to ensure adequate public resources for all green spaces, a statutory duty to manage these spaces to decent (Green Flag Awards) standards, and a national inquiry into these matters.”
Parks AllianceCamley, Chairman of The Parks Alliance, the newly formed voice of UK parks, which brings together for the first time people and organisations that create, maintain, invest in and use the public green spaces, said: "This timely report provides the evidence to back up the experience of park staff and volunteers on the ground that the parks we know, love and use are close to crisis point. The Parks Alliance is keen to work with the Government now to halt the potentially disastrous decline in the green spaces, that are at the heart of British life and culture. Together with the people that create, maintain and use parks, national and local Government has a duty to protect and improve the country's public green spaces for future generations."
Keep Britain TidyPhil Barton, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Keep Britain Tidy welcomes this report as we believe everyone has the right to live close to a quality park. We know how important having skilled staff on site is to delivering this and ensuring our parks thrive and benefit the community. This is not something that can be achieved without the support of all those people who use, and care about, our parks. We encourage communities to engage with us and the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces in our Love Parks programme and fight for every park to be well funded and managed to the Green Flag Award standard.”
Big Lottery FundPeter Ainsworth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “This report highlights the importance of protecting and investing in our parks now and for the future. Our parks are essential to the health and well-being of our communities.
“That’s why our Rethinking Parks partnership with HLF and Nesta is important. This investment aims to help ensure a sustainable future for our parks by supporting a range of projects that will take fresh approaches to the way they are managed. We look forward to seeing these park projects put their creative ideas into action in the coming months.”
Rethinking Parks – A joint Nesta, Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund £1m programme to fund and support parks innovators to develop, implement and spread new approaches to sustaining and making the most of UK public parks.
Nesta is the UK's innovation foundation. Further details can be found on the Nesta website.
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Walthamstow Granada to be Compulsorily Purchased
FROM KATY ANDREWS:
I attended the Cabinet meeting last night at the Walthamstow Girls' school. The small lecture theatre that was used was packed to capacity.
The cabinet approved a further attempt to buy the cinema back, with a CPO to follow if all else failed.
It was a great result, but the event was badly marred by Councillors' gratuitous back-slapping (which Robbins called a "virtual group hug" - yuck!) and in by particular Loakes's disgraceful party political speech, during which he claimed that a CPO couldn't have been proceeded with until 2010 because Labour were in a coalition administration with the LibDems - which is blatant utter rot, as the LibDems were solidly in favour of getting the Granada back for the general public.
I was far from being the only person who refrained from applauding that speech; it was quite shocking to hear him use this momentous occasion to tell lies and plug his own party (after all, the McGuffins Film Club, at least when when Jo and I started it, before Neil Gerrard and the Creasys took it over) included people of every political viewpoint.
I was very annoyed.
Text below is extracted from the rather long (and unnecessarily pro-Labour) trumpeting e-mail sent out by the McGuffins immediately after the meeting ended. Comments from me are in square brackets.
Katy.
A huge leap forward for our cinema dream!
We're delighted to confirm that Waltham Forest Council have approved funding for a Compulsory Purchase or negotiated sale of the EMD/Granada cinema from current owners, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).
At a packed meeting at Walthamstow School for Girls, Council Leader Cllr Chris Robbins introduced proceedings by confirming UCKG's Pastor Paul Hill and directors of Soho Theatre Company were present.
As portfolio holder for Economic Growth & High Streets, Cllr Clare Coghill (who has been a Councillor for only four years) was praised so wildly by all her cabinet colleagues that you'd think she'd spent the last 11 years working on it.
Speeches confirming the long and passionate campaign led by local residents came from former Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard [introduced by Robbins as the person who had kicked off the campaign to save the Granada, which was news to me!], Cllr Claire Coghill and Deputy Leader Cllr Clyde Loakes, who said the council has changed considerably since the EMD's closure in 2003, and understands the building's true value not just to Waltham Forest, but London and beyond.
[One might ask why it has taken them that long to realise the Granada's importance, given that it was 2002 when the infamous Tony Buckley made a public promise - actually in the Granada - that the Council would CPO the building if UCKG bought it and tried to turn it into a "Church"!]
Steve Marmion, Creative Director of Soho Theatre Company spelled out his company's exciting commitment to return the cinema to its original role as a "modern day cine-variety venue" as detailed below.
A message from Soho Theatre Company & Waltham Forest Cinema Trust
A big thank you to everyone at the McGuffin Film Society and Save Walthamstow Cinema
As you know, Waltham Forest Council last night agreed to provide financial support to help Soho Theatre purchase the former Granada building from its current owners, as well as taking significant further steps towards the Compulsory Purchase should negotiations fail. Working closely with the local community, we plan to re-open the original auditorium as a thriving venue for comedy, theatre and film, together with three new cinema screens, an education space and a cafe, restaurant and bar.
We wanted to thank all the supporters who have campaigned so hard for this amazing building. We are delighted to be working closely with the Council and grateful for their support, and while we’re still at an early stage, we hope that it won't be too long before we can come together and properly celebrate the re-opening of the Granada.
Meantime, we have outlined our vision for the building at www.sohotheatre.com/
Steve Marmion and Mark Godfrey, Soho Theatre,
and Neil Gerrard, Waltham Forest Cinema Trust
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