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Victoria Park
A statement on the use of Victoria Park during coronavirus
We manage all our parks, with the safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors at the heart of every decision we make. As the government begins the process of conditionally relaxing the lockdown, we must stay alert to the threat of coronavirus, which remains.
We are now introducing changes to our current coronavirus safety measures in Victoria Park from Saturday 16 May after reviewing new government guidance.
Right now, you can visit the park for exercise or recreation. This can be done on your own, with any number of people from your own household or up to SIX people can meet outside whilst maintaining social distance from those not in your household.
If you, or anyone in your household has symptoms, you should all stay at home.
There may be occasions when visiting the park where we need to ask you to move somewhere else to manage crowds or stop what you are doing. Please respect our staff and volunteers – they are working hard to keep the park open, and safe, for you to use.
You might even see people deliberately ignoring requests. Please don’t follow their lead. Failure to follow guidance may result in fines (starting at £100) or even the closure of the park.
Before you visit, you can read information on our reduced opening hours and safety measures. You'll also find the answers to some of the common questions we have been receiving.
Please enjoy our parks responsibly. Try to travel on foot or by bike where you can and only by car if essential, containing only members of your own household.
Our safety measures for our parks and open spaces are under constant review and will adapt as the situation evolves. We need to respond safely to any new government advice or guidance, which means any changes are likely to take place a few days after any announcement.
Stay safe. Thank you for your patience and support.
Reduced opening hours
Victoria Park is operating with revised opening hours of 7am to 8pm on the east side of the park, and 7.30am to 8pm on the west side (subject to staffing levels).
Safety measures for Victoria Park
In addition to regular patrols by our parks team, Tower Hamlets enforcement officers (THEOs) and the police, there have been several new safety measures introduced which are clearly signposted in the park, outlined as follows:
- Always stay two metres away from other visitors
- Visit on your own or with members of your household
- Up to SIX people can meet outside in parks - provided that those from different households maintain social distance from eachother
- Considerate cycling is allowed – do not travel too fast or too close to others
- Use of playgrounds (including the skatepark), toilets, gym equipment and other cordoned off areas is prohibited
- Only one person, or one household, per bench or picnic bench
- Give way to people exiting the park
- Keep left on pathways and avoid narrow ones
- We recommend dogs are kept on a lead to support effective social distancing
- Anyone who enters Victoria Park when it is locked does so at their own risk
If you have coronavirus symptons, stay at home.
Visitors must follow government guidance
It is still very important that people stay home unless necessary to go out for specific reasons set out in law.
These include:
- for work, where you cannot work from home
- going to shops that are permitted to be open – to get things like food and medicine, and to collect goods ordered online or on the phone
- to exercise or spend time outdoors for recreation (your own household or to meet only one person from another household)
- any medical need, to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
All new regulations are still subject to social distancing rules.
New guidance on spending time outdoors states you may go outside alone, with other people from your household or to meet one other person only from another household.
You should continue to avoid public transport other than for essential journeys. Therefore, you should only make journeys on foot, by bicycle or in a private vehicle. Plan ahead and check before you visit a park that it is prepared for visitors.
For further information, you can read our coronavirus frequently asked questions and the government’s staying alert and safe (social distancing) guidance.
Failure to follow these new safety measures and guidelines
The health and safety of residents remains our priority and failure to follow social distancing could result in fines (starting at £100) or closure of the park. It is vital that the small minority who break the law do not jeopardise our borough and the nation’s recovery.
Frequently asked questionsAtom Feed
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Opening hours are still reduced but will be extended to 7am - 8pm on the east side of the park and 7.30am - 8pm on the west side.
- Answer:
The council has developed a number of control measures to ensure the safe reopening of the park - an essential move to support the mental health and wellbeing of residents during this time. However, the health and safety of residents will remain a priority and failure to comply with these measures and the government’s guidance on access to green space and social distancing could result in fines or closure of the park.
- Answer:
The reduced hours are largely related to the resource required to open and operate the park safely. This includes more staff on site and regular patrols of the park. Rest assured, in addition to taking personal responsibility, new control measures and police powers will enforce the required social distancing and correct behaviour in the park.
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For your health, and the health of others, safe operation of the park is subject to having the right number of staff available. Due to circumstances beyond our control, opening the park may not always be possible and we may need to close the west side of the park, or the entire park, at short notice.
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Yes. Blue badge holders have access to Lido car park (eastern side), Gore Road Gate entrance (west side) and blue badge vehicles are permitted to drive and park on main carriages.
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Considerate cycling is allowed – do not travel too fast or too close to others. Always maintain social distance and use the widest paths, avoiding narrow paths, where possible.
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Yes. Alone or with members of your household.
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Other areas and facilities in the park including all toilets, cafes, playgrounds, and other areas that are usually used for recreation are closed. The water fountains have been shut off.
We are reviewing the use of cafés for takeaway only.
- Answer:
Yes. We have developed several new control measures, which are clearly signposted.
However, the health and safety of residents remains our priority and failure to comply with these measures and the government’s guidance on access to green space and social distancing could result in fines or closure of the park.
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Victoria Park will be regularly patrolled by our parks team, Tower Hamlets enforcement officers (THEOs) and the police.
New control measures are outlined above.
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We recommend dogs are kept on a lead to support effective social distancing.
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The government has introduced higher fines for those who do not comply, to reflect the increased risk to others of breaking the rules as we begin to ease the restrictions, and people return to work. If the police believe that you have broken the law – or if you refuse to follow their instructions enforcing the law – a police officer may issue you with a fixed penalty notice for £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days). If you have already received a fixed penalty notice, the amount will increase to £200 and double on each further repeat offence, up to a maximum of £3,200.
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We want to keep the park open. Visitors must comply, otherwise they risk being fined and will be responsible for the park closing again.
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Other councils are not unique in their duty to promote and defend public health, the same as Tower Hamlets. Similar control measures have been introduced across London, and the country. Other councils have also been forced to close, then reopen, their parks in response to visitors ignoring government guidance on social distancing – including the London boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth and Hammersmith & Fulham, to name a few.
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Local authorities manage their parks, not the government. We would like our parks to stay open too, but they must be open and operated safely – we will never compromise on this, and it clearly remains our priority too, for as long as coronavirus is a public health threat.
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Group activities are allowed but only with one other person from outside of your household or with members of your own household. You must also perform activities/play games in a way that maintains a safe social distance from others.
Gatherings of more than two people are still prohibited by law unless the gathering is of a group of people who live together in the same household.
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Yes. Static exercise is allowed (ie Pilates, yoga, weights) if you are alone, with other people from your household or with one other person from a different household at a safe two metre distance. Group activities or organised sessions are not allowed.
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You can meet one other person from outside your household if you are outdoors. Public gatherings of more than two people, unless you live with them, are still prohibited by law. There are no limits on gatherings in the park with members of your household.
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You may picnic alone, with other people from your household, or with one person only from another household whilst maintaining social distance. Barbeques are not permitted at Victoria Park, or any other park in Tower Hamlets.
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- Yes, you can park in the Lido Car Park. You shouldn’t travel with someone outside of your household unless you can practice social distancing - for example by cycling. You must only travel in a car with members of your own household.
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Reopening of our courts is under review.
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Angling permitted on the east lake only, with one household or one person per jetty.
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Our cricket nets will be open again from Tuesday 19 May. You may use them with people from your household or with one other person only who is not from your household, whilst maintaining social distance.