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Leadership change threat to London's royal parks, say campaigners Leadership change threat to London's royal parks, say campaigners
(about 2 hours later)
The tranquility of London’s royal parks, including Hyde Park, Richmond Park, St James’s Park and Greenwich Park, could be disrupted by a shake-up of their management due later this year, opponents of the changes have said. The tranquility of London’s royal parks, including Hyde Park, Richmond Park, St James’s Park and Greenwich Park, could be disrupted by a shakeup of their management due later this year, opponents of the changes have said.
The capital’s royal parks, which span 5,000 acres of land and attract 77 million visitors a year, are owned by the crown and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. But a new charitable body will take over their management from the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) this autumn to generate more revenue.The capital’s royal parks, which span 5,000 acres of land and attract 77 million visitors a year, are owned by the crown and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. But a new charitable body will take over their management from the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) this autumn to generate more revenue.
RPA said in a statement that the move towards charitable status followed “decreasing government funding” that has made “maintaining high standards increasingly challenging”. It added that “the new charitable public corporation will be increasingly self-sustaining, and so will be able to manage the parks even more efficiently, with better services provided at a lower cost while maintaining excellent visitor satisfaction.” The RPA said that the move towards charitable status followed “decreasing government funding” that had made “maintaining high standards increasingly challenging”. It added: “The new charitable public corporation will be increasingly self-sustaining, and so will be able to manage the parks even more efficiently, with better services provided at a lower cost while maintaining excellent visitor satisfaction.”
It is hoped that the charity will attract corporate sponsors and private donors. But Richard Jones, chairman of the Friends of Greenwich Park, warned that the change was a folly. He told the Financial Times: “The danger is that we are sleepwalking into losing what the parks are for. They’re going to be a funfair and a carnival before we know it.”It is hoped that the charity will attract corporate sponsors and private donors. But Richard Jones, chairman of the Friends of Greenwich Park, warned that the change was a folly. He told the Financial Times: “The danger is that we are sleepwalking into losing what the parks are for. They’re going to be a funfair and a carnival before we know it.”
Friends of Richmond Park also states on its website that reduced public funding, which leads to “increased commercialisation” of the public space, is one of the top three threats that the park faces. “In 1961, public funding was 95% of the park’s income, now it is below 50%,” it warns. Friends of Richmond Park states on its website that reduced public funding, which leads to “increased commercialisation” of the public space, is one of the top three threats that the park faces. “In 1961, public funding was 95% of the park’s income, now it is below 50%,” it warns.
Ron Compton, the group’s chairman, said the changes were having “a big impact on the character of some of the parks” and warned of “a direct conflict between raising money and protecting wildlife”, for example open-air cinema screenings at dusk that disrupt owls’ feeding hours and bats’ ability to navigate. Ron Compton, the group’s chairman, said the changes were having a big impact on the character of some of the parks and warned of “a direct conflict between raising money and protecting wildlife”, for example open-air cinema screenings at dusk that disrupt owls’ feeding hours and bats’ ability to navigate.
Compton added, however, that a move away from government control will make it easier for the parks to raise money from donations. “A lot of people will want to donate to their local park. There are a lot of wealthy individuals out there who want to support the royal parks,” he said. Compton added, however, that a move away from government control would make it easier for the parks to raise money from donations. “A lot of people will want to donate to their local park. There are a lot of wealthy individuals out there who want to support the royal parks,” he said.
Last year, Royal Parks spent £36.6m maintaining the estate, 65% of which was self-generated through events, sponsorship, donations, catering, grants, lottery funding, licences, rental income from lodges, filming and photography. The remaining 35% came from government grants – a real-terms reduction of about 40% since 2010.Last year, Royal Parks spent £36.6m maintaining the estate, 65% of which was self-generated through events, sponsorship, donations, catering, grants, lottery funding, licences, rental income from lodges, filming and photography. The remaining 35% came from government grants – a real-terms reduction of about 40% since 2010.
The parks also have a £56m maintenance backlog, according to its most recent annual accounts. Linda Lennon, a former Royal Parks chief executive, said in its 2014-15 accounts: “The pressure to increase income will only grow given the reduction in our government grant.” The parks have a £56m maintenance backlog, according to the RPA’s most recent annual accounts. Linda Lennon, a former Royal Parks chief executive, said in its 2014-15 accounts: “The pressure to increase income will only grow given the reduction in our government grant.”
Recent concerns were raised after Andrew Scattergood, the chief executive of Royal Parks, said the creation of the new body marks an “exciting new era” for the parks, “one which will see evolution rather than revolution”. Recent concerns were raised after Andrew Scattergood, the chief executive of Royal Parks, said the creation of the new body marked an “exciting new era” for the parks, “one which will see evolution rather than revolution”.
MP David Evennett, the heritage minister, also emphasised that the “new structure will give the parks more financial freedom while continuing to protect these special public spaces for generations to come”. David Evennett, the heritage minister, emphasised that the “new structure will give the parks more financial freedom while continuing to protect these special public spaces for generations to come”.
London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, has said he “fully supports the creation of this new organisation, which will give the parks a stronger financial footing”.London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, has said he “fully supports the creation of this new organisation, which will give the parks a stronger financial footing”.
The creation of the body will see the appointment of a new board of trustees, and the role of a chair is currently being advertised on the Cabinet Office’s public appointments website. The creation of the body will see the appointment of a new board of trustees; the role of a chair is currently being advertised on the Cabinet Office’s public appointments website.