Written evidence submitted by Friends of Battersea Park [PKS 352]

 

Who uses parks and open spaces, how often and for what

  1. Battersea Park is very heavily used, particularly in good weather and over weekends and public holidays, by all sections of society and all age groups.  The Park will be full, late into the evening on a sunny summer weekend.  Family picnics, couples and individuals are all present.  There is a large dog walking community.  Individuals, schools and sports groups use the sports facilities on an ongoing and regular basis.  Thrive, the horticultural mental health charity, gardens in four areas of the Park.

 

Contribution of parks to health and well-being of communities

  1. Enormous!  Numerous people will testify to the benefits brought to them by spending time in a tranquil place surrounded by trees, plants and wildlife, especially in a busy city.

 

Implication of reductions in local authority budgets on Parks

  1. Wandsworth Council has made efforts to protect Battersea Park as the ‘jewel in its crown’ but cuts in funding have meant that staff numbers have been reduced, budgets for the Park constrained and more private businesses have been invited to operate in the Park.  Go Ape and Putt in the Park have replaced the Council’s own Adventure Playground and One O’Clock Club for young children.  There are fewer free activities and less support for those in need of help by what were experienced, valued Council staff. 

 

What the administrative status of parks should be in the light of declining local authority resources for non-statutory services.

  1. Different arrangements may suit different areas but local authorities can take advantage of economies of scale (Wandsworth has 42 significant open spaces) and are democratic institutions answerable to local residents.  They have a direct interest in maintaining standards in open spaces.  Friends groups may be able to help and to influence local authorities and those directly managing parks. 

 

How new and existing parks can best be supported

  1. Consideration should be given to requiring local authorities to preserve and maintain parks and open spaces.  There also needs to be a clear understanding that commercial events should be limited: a balance needs to be struck.  Wandsworth Council earned £2.85m from allowing Formula E electric car racing for two years in Battersea Park, including compensation for cancelled racing in the third year.  However, the local community objected very strongly indeed because of the scale and nature of the disruption to the Park.  Formula E agreed to withdraw from what was a five year contract. 
  2. It is essential that those managing large parks should have the ability and resources to manage and protect these spaces and to do so on a long term basis.  Talented amateurs are not the answer! 

 

What additional or alternative funding is available and what scope is there for local authorities to generate revenue from park users

 

  1. Heritage Lottery Fund grants have been wonderful for Battersea Park: they made all the difference to the 1998-2004 restoration of the park.  People visit parks for rest and tranquillity, not to be fleeced of cash.  Too much commercialisation must be avoided.  Private businesses offering a genuine service to customers are not unacceptable e.g. a well-placed, well-run café.

What the advantages and disadvantages are of other management models such as privatisation, outsourcing or mutualisation

  1. Battersea Park and other Wandsworth Borough open spaces have been managed by a staff mutual, Enable Leisure and Culture since October 2015.  This is a direct result of local authority budget cuts.  It is early days but there is already some distrust in the community that Enable will exploit Battersea Park by increasing the number of events and parking of film vehicles to increase its own revenue.  The Friends’ key concern is that in future tendering exercises, the Council will offer contracts to the cheapest contractor without paying sufficient regard to value for money and that there will be a race to the bottom.  It is helpful that ultimately, a democratically elected Council remains in control of such a valuable local resource.
  2. In Wandsworth, horticultural and aboricultural work have been contracted out for some time.  The problems are whether there are now sufficient talented resources to manage the contracts effectively and whether the key performance indicators in the contracts are adequate. 

 

September 2016