We had a successful public meeting via Zoom, sharing what the Friends of West Ham Park know so far, and listening to what people thought of the proposed scheme and discussing potential future uses for the Nursery Site.
Below is the short slide show we opened the meeting with.
Precis of the minutes from the meeting
Introduction and welcome
Slide presentation on the current position following recent CoLC WHP Committee meetings
Recommended next steps – writing to Mayor of Newham to express support for continuing to oppose any development application by CoLC. We will supply a template letter
Q&A
Questions
- Did the CoLC ever reveal the figures that say the nursery was economically unviable? Was it actually unprofitable or just not at the profit-levels the CoLC wanted?
- How did CoLC reach such a decision, why not retain growing facilities (there is a market) and are CoLC going to allow the park to deteriorate through loss of trees?
- The 2022 consultation did not produce any public results. Is the proposed consultation on principles of sale or only on what use is made of the remaining land? Critical we cover this point in our responses to CoLC.
- What is the current condition of the site and ground contamination? Someone replied that there is a lot of concrete that would have to be removed and the land made good – very costly. Shouldn’t CoLC have a contingency to pay for this?
Suggested alternative uses
- This space could be a shinning example of urban sustainability. The site (or part of it) where the glasshouses are could be used to grow organic high quality food to supply to local shops and further afield. Using a model similar to Organic Lea with a horticultural community education scheme and a cafe which could also use the produce.
- A tree nursery like Hackney Tree nursery could be included? This space could be such an innovative forward thinking project which celebrates the long horticultural history and perhaps could have a micro museum?
- What about a basketball/multi purpose ball playground – a bit like the one in Stratford park
- What about the concept of a craft village to generate long term income for the park as a potential alternative.
- Community vegetables growing and sell it back to local community – good for healthy eating and low costs to help in current cost of living impact. We all have to eat and it’s long term.
- Langthorne Park, has an amphitheatre! Outdoor entertainment space would be useful in Stratford (perhaps speak to Theatre Royal?) and might also be a cheap/low maintenance option?
- Was there funding for tiny forests somewhere recently?
- The purpose of park is to use it as open space for outdoor healthy activities. How did CoLC change its course to property development? Where the City get its money from? Newham Council should be doing some robust survey on behalf of the local population – where is the evidence?
Worries
- There are worries that Newham Council, hungry for new housing, might make a deal for a percentage of the flats. On the other hand they are also keen to up their green areas – difficult to find new ‘ready made’ areas such as this one.
- There are so many developments going up all over Newham – I wonder if there are too many at the moment so CoL are slowing their process.
- The housing proposals do not reflect the needs of the local community – health and space and well being are issues for us, not more houses when there are plenty of brownfield sites for development. But I guess CoLC has no obligation to our community interests?
- CoLC seem very sold on the idea so only a prohibition or something like that from Newham might stop them.
- Someone asked a councillor in a Newham meeting but they said they had received no planning application, but that was over a year ago.
Concluding remarks
- The chair thank everyone for attending and participating. We will circulate a draft letter to Mayor of Newham. We would develop possible alternative use ideas and how these might be funded but would welcome more suggestions on uses and financing options. We’ll let everyone know more details of CoLC consultation once we have these as well as the park’s 150th anniversary celebration events this year.
- And emphasised the importance of the local community being part of developing alternative use options.