KING EDWARD MEMORIAL PARK
NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 2016
Creating a masterplan
Draft masterplan exhibition and drop in.
Shadwell Basin foyer – September 4-11, weekdays 8am-7pm,
weekends 9am-5pm. Drop in and have a chat Sunday September
11th, 10am-1pm
John Orwell Sports Centre foyer– September 13-18, weekdays
7am-10pm, weekends 9am-6pm. Drop in and have a chat
Wednesday September 14th, 7pm-9pm
During June 2016, the
first round of consultation
on the KEMP masterplan
took place.
194 people visited the exhibition at
KEMP on June 4, completing 85
questionnaires. 23 additional
conversations were documented.
35 people visited the exhibition at
Raine House on June 8, and 35
questionnaires were completed. 22
additional questionnaires were sent
in subsequently, and three emails
were received with comments.
Numerous comments were
captured on post-it notes at both
events. This feedback is helping the
design team come up with a draft
masterplan.
The next round of consultation will
be to display the draft masterplan
for comment in September at
Shadwell Basin and John Orwell
Sports Centre. Make sure you
come along and have a look at
what is proposed so you can make
your views known. The masterplan
will be finalised during October.
You may see some
signs of early work at
KEMP. This is ground
investigation that will
be happening over the
coming months.
Consultation
Response
Those completing the
questionnaire were fairly evenly
divided between those visiting
the Park most days and those
visiting weekly, with a smaller
number visiting only monthly or
a few times a year.
The most common reason given
for visiting the Park was for a
walk, followed by ‘enjoying the
view’, ‘exercise’, ‘relaxing in
nature’ and ‘sport’. A smaller
number use the Park as a ‘route
to somewhere else’, or
‘accompanying children to play’,
‘meeting friends’ or ‘walking
a dog’. Many people gave more
than one reason for visiting
the Park.
Important aspects of
KEMP to be preserved
The most frequent answer was ‘a
view of the river’ followed closely
by ‘peace and quiet’, ‘green
space’, a ‘mix of play and green
space’ and ‘toilets’. A significant
number felt KEMP should provide
‘places for nature’ ‘places to sit’,
‘play for young children’, ‘space
for sport’, with a smaller but still
significant number wanting the
Park to provide ‘play for older
children’, ‘entrances and paths
that welcome’, ‘native trees’,
‘valuing the site’s heritage’,
‘flowers’ and a ‘café’.
Sport
Sport was the fifth most popular
use (out of 10 choices) and the
ninth most valued activity (out of
17 choices) in KEMP. Tennis was
the most popular sport with
about 16% more support than
football which was the second
most popular sport. Of those
who cited tennis, a significant
number asked for more and/or
better courts. Of topics not
covered by the questionnaire,
improving the quality of the
sports surfaces, particularly
for football, and creating an
11-a-side football pitch were
cited most often as important.
Play
The quality most desired in
relation to play was safety, and
then climbing, slides and fun,
closely followed by ‘access for
all’, and places for adults to sit.
These responses reflect the fact
that the majority of respondents
were adult.
Natural Landscape
The Park as a ‘place to relax in
nature’ was given as the third
most popular use and ‘open
green space’ was the third most
desired quality. A significant
number of comments relate to
the need to enhance and care for
the natural landscape, to replace
trees removed with mature
specimens, enhance
the wild areas and
refurbish and
enhance the pond.
Facilities
The need for
toilets was cited as
more important
than a café. Of the
18 categories of
desirable qualities,
toilets were rated fifth
with a café’ 15th. Toilets
for the public have to be
managed by some form of
commercial outlet, so LBTH has
commissioned a commercial
viability study on potential café
locations. The results of this study
are informing plans for a café
and toilets in the Park and at
Brussels Wharf.
Maintenance
Improved maintenance and the
need to address antisocial
behaviour were the third and fifth
most cited issues.
Summary Conclusion
For the majority of respondents,
KEMP is a local and much loved
destination as a green space
giving access to nature as well
as opportunities for play, sports
and exercise.
The river view is considered the
greatest asset of the Park with
high value placed on the
Edwardian heritage.
Although only mid table in
popularity of use and value, the
sports courts are highly significant
to those who use them,
particularly tennis and football.
The demand is for more courts
and improved surfaces, especially
for football, as the current tarmac
is considered unsafe and not fit
for purpose.
For more information contact
[email protected]
Produced by Tower Hamlets Council’s Communications Unit | 275.2 | 08/16
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Foreshore
The foreshore was not covered
by the exhibition, but
comments were invited.
The most common feedback
was that the design of the
ventilation columns should be in
keeping with the heritage
qualities of the Park.
Consultation on
the Foreshore
The details of the vent columns,
kiosk and the reinstated part of
the Park occupied by Tideway
will be submitted to the Council
for approval. This will also
include the detailed design of
the new part of the Park on the
foreshore structure. So that the
local community can be
involved in the development of
this element of design there will
be separate consultation by
Tideway's contractor, CVB,
which is currently planned
for the summer of 2017. The
planning submission will
be made to the Council in
autumn 2017.