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Why cut down the capital’s lungs in the name of sport?
• AT a time when global warming is a bye-word for environmental concern should Royal Parks really be in the business of felling more than 60 parkland trees, paving over nearly five acres of precious woodland meadow or burning the energy to fuel 40 floodlights, all in the name of sport?
Doesn’t the Royal Parks have an environmental policy, or is it carbon footprint not yet big enough for them to worry?
What really is driving this crazy proposal? Is it to improve the facilites which this set-piece of urban design already accommodates,or is it down to money?
The reality is Royal Parks is being run on an ever decreasing budget from central government.
It has to raise money and the more they raise, more will be expected.
It seems more energy goes in to fundraising than managing the parks for what they should be, open space for the relaxation and passive enjoyment of all. Twenty five per cent of Regent’s Park is already given over to sports, that should surely be enough.
Or can we look forward to a time when they will be given over completely to sport, parking, events and promotions with a moustache of vegetation on what cannot be exploited around the perimeter? The clue is in the name ‘Regent’s Park’ not the Regent’s Development Opportunity.
CHRIS PARK
Pollit Drive, nw8
• I HAVE begun walking regularly in Regent’s Park and am dismayed the number of vehicles deployed by the park contractors. Workers are ferried to and fro all day and vehicles used to transport minimum loads.
Even in bad weather a huge refuse truck, manned by two people, patrols the park endlessly looking for the odd crisp packet or newspaper in the otherwise empty bins. What a waste of resources and apparent generous funding. This unhealthy vehicle is parked for long breaks at the entrance of the gardens. Whatever happened to the once natural, healthy environment?
Regent’s Park is beginning to lose all concept of what parks are about.
Marylebone Green is closed to the public and one of the rather rude contractors quoted “it’s because people were walking on it”.
It’s time for Royal Parks to reign in their prima donnas who regard the public as intruders and restore the park to its former natural glory.
TREVOR INNES
Goodge Street, W1
• I WISH to protest about the tennis court and golf range being made into five-a-side football pitches in Regent’s Park, as they are not in keeping with the surrounding area.
Also, knocking down 16 tress is certainly not environmentally friendly.
As a person who has come to London for my health and stays in Regent’s Park, I think that any change for modern commercialism will be disastrous for the park. Last time it was a music festival we managed to cancel with Prince Charles’ help.
I do hope you will change it this time to avoid destroying the tennis courts, which avoid the noise and pollution.
I am not speaking of class privilege, but of the hundreds and thousands of people and children to whom the uncompromised facilities of Regent’s Park are so important.
I am sure that thousands like me would not readily pay the extra on the surrounding properties if these facilities are destroyed.
RICHARD POLLOCK
Chester Terrace, NW1
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