Victoria Park project

Frequently asked questions

1. What type of project is taking place in the park?
2. What is the duration of the improvement works?
3. What is happening with the children’s playgrounds?
4. Is it true that the playgrounds will have no fences?
5. Is it true that there will be a new skate park built?
6. What work is taking place on the lakes?
7. What is the timescale for the lake works and what will happen to the wildlife whilst the lake works are carried out?  
8. What are the fenced off areas?
9. What’s the purpose of the new roads?
10. Why have the Café Pavilion toilets been closed?
11. Why are there trees being cut down in the park?
12. Where have the deer gone?

What type of project is taking place in the park?

We have been successful in securing funding of £4.9 million through Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery’s Fund (BIG) Parks for People programme. Coupled with funding we have set aside and £2 million from our host borough capital investment, there will be £12 million available for improving the park. View plans 

What is the duration of the improvement works?

All works are planned for completion in spring 2012 to coincide with the opening of the Olympic Park.

What is happening with the children’s playgrounds?

Both playgrounds, Victoria and Alexandra (V&A) and The Pools Playground will undergo extensive refurbishment. Both playgrounds were closed February 2011. The V&A re-opened in December 2011.The shelter building located within the V&A playground will be transformed in to a community-based facility. The aim is for the  Pools playground to be completed Spring 2012.

Is it true that the playgrounds will not be fenced?

In August 2008 Play England and the Government launched new design guidance titled Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces. This is non statutory guidance containing advice and ideas on how to transform children’s play spaces. The guidance has been endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive and Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and supports play area providers in demonstrating best practise and innovative design in the development of play sites.

It provides ideas and practical recourses for building new play spaces in a fresher and more inspiring manner. The guide supported by Cabe Space advocates a fresh design - led  approach to commissioning based on 10 principles and encapsulates in one golden rule a successful play space is a place in its own right specially designed for its location in such a way as to provide as much play value as possible. The principles ask practitioners to imagine a play space that:

• Provides a wide range of play experiences
• Are more accessible for both disabled and non disabled children
• Meet community needs
• Allow children of different ages to play together
• Build opportunities to experience risk and challenge
• Are bespoke
• Are well located
• Make use of natural elements
• Are sustainable and appropriately maintained.
• Allow for change and evolution.

Current national governing body guidelines recognise that children benefit far more by having played integrated into the wider environment rather than confining it to small enclosures.

Plans and designs for the park including the play provision were approved by the (HLF) Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Council has been embracing this new approach to improve its design for play in parks. Recent schemes funded by Government money include removal of fencing providing integrated play spaces within the park landscape include Millwall Park, Poplar Park and Langdon Park where traditional fencing was removed.  

The Playground landscape features include path ways, ground modelling, planting and hedges to signify boundaries to play spaces as part of the integrated design for the whole park.

We believe that children and families will both enjoy and value the major investment in play and improved play provisions within Victoria Park and other parks in the borough.

Currently all parks and open spaces within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets are designated under the Dogs Fouling Act 1996, this Act states that dog walkers must clean up straightaway after their dog has fouled. Failure to do so can result in prosecution and a £1.000 fine, however, Park Officers are working with their colleagues in Environmental Health (Animal Warden Service) in order to undertake a broad review of existing polices covering both education and enforcement of dog control orders under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Over one hundred children and young people from local schools and youth clubs were involved in consultation sessions regarding the plans of the park. Some of the key points to emerge were that children and young people liked the plans and proposals for the park and play areas.

This level of detail is to illustrate that the design of the play spaces within Victoria Park has not been lightly undertaken or without a great degree of research and consideration.

Is it true that there will be a new skate park built?

Yes, we are constructing a new and improved wheelpark for skateboarders and BMX riders in the eastern section of the park. This will replace the outdated wheelpark facility located nearby the old lido by Grove Road.

We have held several meetings with local skateboarders and BMX riders to ensure their needs are incorporated into the new design.

What work is taking place on the lakes?

The West Lake

A third island will be introduced where the new Chinese pagoda is going to be built. There will be two new bridges constructed leading on and off the island.

The lake will be drained down, de-silted and the original cascade and a new bore hole will be introduced to improve the water quality. Whilst this work is carried out, the fish have been relocated to another lake off-site. A decision was taken in the autumn to re-home the fish on advice from the Environmental Agency Fisheries Department and the company that were holding the fish.

The East Lake

The western end of the East Lake will be extended with the introduction of a new island to act as a fish refuge. The lake will be drained down, de-silted and new marginal plants introduced. A full re-stocking programme will be carried out as soon as the works are complete. The species have been chosen on advice from the Environment Agency and the council’s bio-diversity officer.   

What is the timescale for the lake works and what will happen to  the wild life whilst the lakeworks are carried out?

The lake works includes draining and removal of the silt which will take most of the summer with the refilling proposed during late July.  The process allows for the drying of the silt material so that it can be safely removed and the original water levels achieved.  The de-silting, restoration of the cascade and introduction of a new bore hole is imperative to return the overall lake to good health by giving it a gentle through flow. It currently is not a healthy environment for either the fish or the wild fowl. The fish have all been caught by a specialist company and re-located to another lake off-site. A full restocking strategy in line with the Environmental Agency and the council's bio-diversity officer's recommendations will take place on the East Lake once the lake has been refilled and the water has reached a suitable condition.

The bird life is all wild and is expected to fly off as the lakes are drained, which many have already done. The Swan Sanctuary have removed the last two remaining swans and relocated them to another lake off-site. The work has been overseen by ecologists and, in addition, the team on-site are in touch with other specialists such as the RSPCA in case we feel there are special circumstances where they should be involved. The timing of the drainage is to avoid the nesting period and minimise disruption to the birds. All of the works being carried out are necessary and cannot be achieved without causing a level of short term disruption but the benefits will be much longer term and the lake will naturally restock with wildfowl once the natural balance has been restored.

What are the fenced off areas?

These are the contractor’s site compounds for storage of plant and materials. The green fenced off area on the eastern side of the park is the site for the new Eastern Hub building which will house a new café, community room and park offices.

What’s the purpose of the new roads?

These are temporary, fenced-off access roads for contractors’ vehicles. These will be removed as soon as the works are complete and all areas reinstated at the end of the programme.

Why have the Café Pavilion toilets been closed?

They have been closed for a re-fit. Temporary toilets will be in place whilst the work is carried out.

Why are there trees being cut down in the park?

We are felling the minimum number of trees to allow for construction of new buildings and features. This was subject to planning permission. The council carried out a full arboriculture survey of all the trees in the park. We are currently preparing a detailed tree strategy that will include the planting of 500 new trees in the coming years and tree management proposals which will be subject to public consultation.

Where have the deer gone?

The deer have been relocated to Gorsefield Children’s Activity Centre in Stansted, Essex which is owned by Tower Hamlets. Here they will have a better quality of life and more room to roam free in a more natural environment.