LDA’s Burgess Park redevelopment plans have attracted media attention, with reports on BBC London News and ITV News on Friday.
The issue they focused on – a new amphitheatre in the park – appears to be somewhat of a side issue compared to the bulk of the plans.
The report features Councillor Barrie Hargrove, and Donnachadh McCarthy (Burgess Park Action Group) who argues the plans will mean the bulldozing of some natural areas of the park. This isn’t really a fair interpretation, as it’s not the Amphitheatre plans but the re-sculpturing plans that will mean losing some wild areas of the park.
EQRA’s position is that we are generally desperate for the plans to go ahead, and feel the benefits of the new spaces created far outweigh the loss of some areas which many members actually felt were in need of attention anyway.
The original Masterplan report is here
- BBC London’s web report.
- Another video report here on ITV London.
Thanks for highlighting this story about Southwark Council’s plans to create in Burgess Park in their words:
“A purpose built space for some of the largest festivals in Europe with amphitheatre style viewing for over 100 thousand people, a floating stage, and a dedicated cultural hub”
Such festivals attract up to 200,000 if you add the secondary stages and ancillary events around the Festival. This would be facilitated in Burgess Park by their proposal to flatten nearly all of the park west of Wells Way also, creating what they term another “Events Area” in addition to the 100,000 person open air amphitheatre.
To facilitate moving such large numbers in and out of the park, the new masterplan has very significant proposals to bulldoze significant areas of existing woodland between the Old Kent Road and the Walworth Road.
It is estimated that there could be up to 7 such European style mega music festivals each summer, which would mean also losing large areas of the park for the period leading up to the music festival and the clean up period afterwards.
The Burgess Park Action Group has put together a list of areas in the park which we think the new proposals will bulldoze. See the full list below if interested to see if any of the areas you may like in the park are threatened.
We respect that EQRA officially support these proposals, but the Burgess Park Action Group would welcome any local residents who like us would like to preserve what is good about the park and work to make it an even more beautiful place for play and nature and for it to be an exemplary Eco-park.
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Draft List of previous park investments and wild-life sites to be bull-dozed by the latest LDA “masterplan”
Produced by Burgess Park Action Group
1. Landscaping paid for by Groundwork Southwark in front of Library – now mature to be bulldozed.
2. The landscaping and re-tiling and new lighting installed by Groundwork Southwark in Wells Way underpass to be bulldozed. (This is the only safe connection crossing a road that is so busy it carried 50% of the Old Kent Road – essential for parents and very popular with cyclists.)
3. The 20 year old woodland and hill between the lime kiln and library to be flattened.
4. The newly installed Broough’s first LED ultra-efficient park lighting scheme installed on path between Southampton Way and Albany Road to be removed completely.
5. The large and formerly very popular toddler and teenage playground on Wells Way – to be bulldozed and landscaped instead of being repaired, installed by Southwark Council about 15 years ago and which the council had no money to repair even the swings.
6. About 400 meters of the popular cycle and pedestrian Canal Avenue where it passes under the old canal bridge is to be dug up and a pond put in its place, paid for by Groundwork Southwark about 8 years ago.
7. Entire side of the dual line of cherry-blossom trees planted by Groundwork Southwark at same time as laying of Canal Avenue is to be bulldozed for its entire length between the canal over-bridge and Glengall Road on St Georges side of Avenue.
8. The cycle track by the lime kiln is to be bulldozed – part funded by Southwark Cyclists just over two years ago.
9. The woodland, wildlife site and hill at east end of Burgess Park Lake which was planted by Southwark Council rangers service about 15 years ago and now mature to be flattened.
10. A second woodland, wildlife site and hill on other side of closed Calmington Road to be flattened.
11. The wildflower meadow by the Canal Avenue – been colonised by range of wild-plants and flowers for over 10 years and been undergoing meadow management for over 10 years to have the Cycle/BMX track built on it.
12. The mature wildlife woodland sections along St George’s Way which was planted by Groundwork Southwark about 12 years ago and now mature, is to be split up with a complex maze of paths.
13. The landscaping between Lake and Old Kent Road to be bulldozed to allow lake to be seen from the Old Kent Road (disastrously this will allow traffic and pollution from Old Kent Road to be seen from the currently peaceful lake).
14. The entrance at Old Kent Road installed by Southwark Council about 13 years ago to be completely bulldozed rather than revamped.
15. LDA “landscape architects” have been unable to provide a number of mature and semi-mature they intend to kill and remove. Initial guestimates are well over 1,000. Nearly 50 years of planting and growth of trees is threatened in large swathes of the park.
16. In the words of the architects the Canal Avenue mature wildflower meadow will be replaced by “A purpose built space for some of the largest festivals in Europe with amphitheatre style viewing for over 100 thousand people, a floating stage, and a dedicated cultural hub;
17. The wildlife site beside the cricket pitch is to be bulldozed. This is well over 30 years old and is on the site of a garden that predates the park.
18. An area the size of THREE football pitches is to be removed from open space and instead fenced off for polytunnels and allotments.
19. The existing cafe that overlooks the beautiful multi-cultural garden is to be closed and moved to overlook the Aylesbury Estate and Albany Road. The outdoor tables instead of being placed in a beautiful sheltered Arabic garden with the cafe furniture designed in line with the Arabic heritage of the garden will be on a concrete site exposed to a wind-tunnel funnelled from adjacent buildings.
20. Two sets of paths are to be placed through the existing RSPB maintained special house-sparrow meadows.
21. The 30 year old wildlife woodland and nesting area by the Albany Road side of the lake to be bulldozed.
22. The largest and most mature section of wild woodland along Albany Road at other side of path near lake looks to be bulldozed.
23. Mature shrubbery in front of St George’s Church at junction of New Church Road to be bulldozed –planted by international student workshop 14 years ago.
24. The avenue of mature trees between entrance at corner of Wells Way to the Canal Avenue all look likely to be removed, along with the path installed by Groundwork Southwark about 8 year ago.
Nobody wants seven mega festivals on their doorstep but then I don’t think anyone really believes there will actually be seven mega festivals, the park is too busy catering to endless film companies all coming to Burgess Park to film their next post apocalyptic-wasteland-gangsta scene.
Only two weeks ago an indy crew was filming a motorbike chase scene that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Mad Max or Terminator 2! So do they love Burgess Park because of its ‘beautiful meadows’, or because it looks like a wasteland!!
Hi T
Glad we agree that having 7 mega festivals is not a great idea!
So we think providing a permanent stage for them and bulldozing existing woodlands between the Old Kent Road and the proposed 100,000 person amphitheatre would therefore not make sense.
It would also mean the polluted traffic and noise from the Old Kent Road would then be visible from the picnic area by the lake, when it currently is not.
The reasons it is popular with tv crews I think is the remaining derelict roads and the nearby tower blocks.
The council has £4.5 million available from a special park grant and the Burgess Park Action Group would like to see them use this to remove the derelict roads, repair the popular play area on Wells Way, repair the lake which is leaking water and improve landscaping rather then bulldozing 20 year old woodlands and meadows.
These mature trees help to obscure some of the more intrusive tower blocks.
The agreed statement that we have put together with 17 other local groups outlining what we would like for the park and what sections of the latest proposed masterplan are disastrous is on our Burgess Park Action Group Facebook page.
thanks Donnachadh
I think Burgess Park in it’s current state is a disgrace – the majority of what are considered wooded matures areas are full of litter and look unkept and are a blight on the landscape.
The park needs to be landscaped, maintained, have clear line of sight and stop looking like a derelict park in a 3rd world country.
I have no desire to have mega concerts, garden plots or free community food from fruit trees in the park. If we want to regenerate the area and encourage people to consider moving to our area we need to have a park we are proud of and as well maintained as the other large parks in the area not one where most residents fear for their lives if they use it.
The park has huge potential and with funding to deliver – i can’t express strongly enough my support of the LDA proposal! BULLDOZE AWAY!
Hi LDA supporter – from your posting it sounds like you may not have had a chance to read the plans in full ?
LDA state clearly they want to create a venue that will host Europe’s largest music festivals with a permanent stage to facilitate them also. Such festivals host up to 200,000 people.
LDA propose reshaping the current festival/flat football area to shape it into a natural amphitheatre holding 100,000 people and to flatten the other side of the park to create another events area.
LDA also propose devoting the area of 3 large football pitches to allotments / community growing areas
So when you state the things you do not want in the park this is confusing as these are some of the key proposals in the LDA plans for the park.
I agree that it is not good to have litter in the woodland areas and can not understand why the same standards are not applied to litter in these areas by the Council. But would prefer to see them litter-picked rather than bulldozed.
I asked the local park manager and police liaison people if these could be cleared of litter using community service – they said they were already doing it but think more could be done.
I find your views stating that woodland areas are a blight on the landscape quite a paradoxical concept but everybody has their opinion and we often value different things.
To me it is the ugly tower blocks which are the blot of the landscape and like them to be screened by trees and woodland when in the park.
Having planted many of those trees on community planting days, just like the EQRA planting day with bulbs, I guess I am more likely to really like them!
cheers
Sorry but you are being deceptive. There are not 17 community groups on board with you. You have some members of some groups, but the groups themselves have not officially endorsed your position. If you can show me where there memberships ´have voted, via constitutional means, I will recant. But they haven’t. Yes, a few “groups” (two people operating a silly website) may have endorsed it. But not a groundswell of support representing the vast majority of people who support the plans. Southwark and Boris should be applauded here – after years of neglect, things are happening and we were consulted to death. Move forward!
A number of community groups do in fact support the position of the Burgess Park Action Group, including the Friends of Burgess Park who have done considerable work consulting with the local community over the past 2 years. We have worked hard with other groups to arrive at a consensus, to suggest that Southwark Council spend the money on the essentials.
If only the £30M pounds Southwark say they need to complete the masterplan was available. We could all sleep at night. Unfortunately, there is only a guarantee of £4.5M, and surely we would like the money spent in the most useful and practical way.
More money may come, but when? 5 years? 10 years?
£100′s of thousands of pounds have been spent over the last 10 years improving the park. Do you really think it’s sensible to trash this work? Many local people have been involved in planting and maintaining these projects. It’s not their fault that Southwark can’t keep their side of the deal and maintain to a decent standard. This is why the woodlands are in poor condition. With proper maintenance work they can be restored, made safe and accessible and enhance the park.
Southwark haven’t said the parks maintenance budget is increasing, so we worry that acres of proposed new gardens look lovely on a plan, but in reality could end up looking like the Dry Garden (behind the church). It’s our only area of ornamental planting and they are unable to maintain it.
Having said that, many of the proposed ideas are great, but with limited money, surely we are better off addressing those issues that affect local people directly, ie play, safety, maintenance and wildlife.
Finding a way to get the most out of the money available, to address the problems of the park, to build on what has already been done and to create a park for the future.
This will give us what we need now, and create the foundation for further development when money does come in.
No one would detract from the sterling work carried out by invaluable groups like yours over the last decade or more. Without them, Burgess Park would be a poorer place. However, we now have the offer of once-in-a-lifetime investment and meaningful change. It would be perverse (unforgivable, actually) to risk throwing that chance away.
You mention the Dry Garden and its parlous state – but it is not the only area of formal planting in Burgess Park. For some reason you overlook the World Garden and complex at Chumleigh Gdns. This is actually the only real example of a proper flower garden – and is far and away the most loved and valued part of the park. It is also immaculate and always well-maintained. Where there are showcase beds and borders that are a source of pride (think Peckham Rye Park and Dulwich Park), their maintenance is a priority and a given.
Our members are not naive – we know that £4.5 million is enough to implement only a fraction of the Masterplan. That’s why we too have worked hard to come up with a list of priorities that addresses our residents’ needs (surprise, surprise, our list of essentials mirrors yours: play, safety, maintenance and wildlife). We also know that the Council’s record on upkeep is poor. You only have to look at the public disgrace that is Central Venture to see that. However, via the consultation process, we have forcibly made the point that we don’t want to see wholesale ripping up of Burgess Park only to watch the project grind to a halt, leaving an even worse mess. We have also stressed the need for adequate long-term upkeep and raised various other issues.
What is unfathomable to our members and other local residents, is that groups who have been custodians of the park, who have cried out for more investment, who want to see the best for the park and its users are using blocking tactics. To raise concerns and objections or make suggestions is one thing. To step in at this late stage with a major campaign that has the potential to cause the return of millions of pounds earmarked for us to be returned to Boris is quite another.
It smacks of fear. Fear of change and perhaps even fear of losing control.
Meantime, I repeat our offer of coming to one of our meetings to tell us more about Friends of Burgess Park and the good work you do: next one is at the cafe in Chumleigh Gardens on Saturday 17th July: 10:30 am. Do join us for coffee and a chat.
The World Garden and Chumleigh continue to be managed separately from the rest of the park which is why they look so beautiful. They are also not maintained by Quadron. You only have to look at the flowerbed directly outside, but in front of Chumleigh to notice the difference.
Re revitalisation. The Friends certainly do not wish to block development. We certainly don’t want to see money thrown away. Yet we also don’t want to see the money wasted on elements that are extremely expensive and offer little in return.
The whole project has been rushed through, with us constantly being told what we are going to get. We haven’t been convinced that real consultation has taken place.
Consultation shouldn’t consist of showing people pretty pictures and saying you can have this or what you’ve got now. It should be about genuinely finding out what peoples aspirations and needs are.
The ‘late stage’ is the realisation after long thought and consideration of the plans that some elements are ill conceived and won’t enhance the park. It is also the fact that Southwark have failed to listen. There is no fear of change or loss of control involved, just the simple fact that we want the money spent wisely.
In consultation with Southwark we have already discovered several elements they themselves have not considered properly and are reconsidering.
For example, why does levelling the small hills by the lake become the only way to create disabled access? This is the reason Southwark have given for their removal. When it was pointed out that although overgrown (lack of maintenance) the hills shield the lake form the prevailing wind, making it a pleasant place to be, this was acknowledged. When suggested that people who live in hilly areas don’t blast away hillsides to create disabled access, but build in appropriate pathways to accommodate this, this was also acknowledged.
Southwark very recently spent over £1M constructing a new playground. Quite how they managed to spend that amount of money on such a poorly designed and implemented space is astonishing.
The thought of this happening again is driving the issues we now raise.
No one is suggesting that no compromise takes place. We have simply argued that the process of change work from the bottom up rather than ‘top down’. Would we rather have functional lighting, adequate rubbish removal, new trees, beautiful wildlife areas, a smart park that works rather than all the money go on fancy entrances, acres of fenced off sports fields, swimming lakes and acres of ornamental gardens.
Re the meeting on the 17th, I’m working that day but I will see if someone else can go, as we would like to reassure you that we are not anti improvement but like all local residents, want the best park we can get.
Funding like this doesn’t come around very often and this project is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
You supported the bid, now do you support the plans?
Come to the next public meeting and let us know. 20 July: Thurlow lodge from 5pm to 7pm
Throughout July we’ve been gathering your views on the latest proposals for Burgess Park, and incorporating them with the extensive consultation we’ve been doing over the last 16 months (more than 25 events and over one thousand responses in various forms).
Some proposals have been supported, but there are others you were concerned about, and we have listened to you. We’ve proposed some changes and you still have until the end of this week to have your say.
Tell us what you think by Friday 30 July – send comments to des.waters@southwark.gov.uk
View the proposed amendments set in the final consultation by visiting http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2418/burgess_park_presentation