Scandalous. Wandsworth Council must have earned so much in S106 funds (and misused them?) and now they destroy quiet local park. Stop over-commercialisation of local parks. Tell the Council to save funds somewhere else. I will happily pay £20 p.a. park tax if there won't be any music festivals and similar noisy events.
B
Bob Geldof
11 years ago
It's a park not a racing track. Also the council have done the worst commercial deal I have ever heard of. If the justification for this closure of the park is financial gain to the borough then it is misplaced. The tragically pathetic amount of revenue generated is in no way commensurate with the amounts the sport and its sponsorship geberate. Who did this deal? Who sold the park and the people who use and need it down the river? The whole thing stinks. Literally.
J
J Munroe
11 years ago
I didn't expect it to be so disruptive weeks before the event.
J
JOHN MCGOFF
11 years ago
Wandsworth Council are completely out of order! They need to consult the people who live in the borough before making such dreadful and damaging decisions
L
LYNN RUSS
11 years ago
How dare they do this to our park? If they want to race cars use Brands Hatch - leave our park as it has been for years - a peaceful and beautiful place.
C
carinthia west
11 years ago
It is completely outrageous that this should be held in peaceful beautiful Battersea Park!
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
This is a park not a racetrack!...as my daughter said today after we tried to walk there and saw the terrible transformation + disruption. She also pointed out that young people today are criticised for not getting enough exercise + sitting in front of computers all the time so that events like this closing a valuable city park in the summer,at a weekend (and before + beyond) is disgraceful + counterproductive.
S
susan lofthouse
11 years ago
Particularly ironic when you see the article on zoos, preservation and adoption in their Formula E Programme. Sheer hypocrisy.
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
The Park will most probably shut completely for at least five days, but the disruption has been happening since early June with chunks of the park closed to users, and by mid June Battersea Park is a jungle of concrete, fences and tarmac; it is shoking. This means people, families, children, and the young cannot use the Park. How are the children going to access the playground safely? This is outrageous. The park must be reinstated to its formal appearance and use without delay, and no more formula car races in Battersea Park.
R
Rod Craig
11 years ago
The parks belong to us, the people; we pay for them. No matter how much this circus is paying Wandsworth, the financial benefits will not be cascaded down to taxpayers. The park now resembles Guantanamo Bay. Why couldn't at least part of the park be left open to those of use who use it for its proper purpose? - the southern end with its trees and gardens could easily have been made available. But no doubt the organisers demanded that no-one be allowed in unless they've paid. Wandsworth had no right to do this without consultation, and I will remember this when local elections come around. I will also consider putting my name forward as the Parks for People candidate (a working title at this point).
L
Laura Keynes
11 years ago
I'm a mum with a young baby - we use this park every day. I feel like WBC have sold us out to the highest bidder. Shame on you WBC.
C
Cynthia Wishart
11 years ago
shame! Leave parks to the people of London.
J
Jocelyndunleavy
11 years ago
outrageous
A
Aldwyn Boscawen
11 years ago
An absolute disgrace this has been allowed to go ahead. The Council has completely ignored the local residents and park users who are the ones who pay the council tax to keep the park running.
H
Heidi cook
11 years ago
i agree, it's ruining our parks
V
Vivienne Ritchie
11 years ago
I feel that this Formula E is very much against the ethos of a London Park, and am horrified by the construction that is happening, the intrusion of which has lasted a month now, before the event has even taken place.
S
susan lofthouse
11 years ago
Great letter, Alex. However, the issue is surely that this event is unsuitable for a small Victorian Park, whatever the weather, whatever the season. Cycling, walking, dog-walking, visits to the zoo, running, yoga, training, football, and so on are year-round activities. The same ugly structures would appear, the same disruption would occur, except that it might last longer, since winter nights get darker sooner, and work stops earlier. And the darkening of the evenings means that people are even more in need of escape into something green and tranquil. The only answer to this terrible Boris-inspired mess is the break clause - now.
Go to Brands Hatch if you want to race cars!
plenty of purpose built race tracks
Scandalous. Wandsworth Council must have earned so much in S106 funds (and misused them?) and now they destroy quiet local park. Stop over-commercialisation of local parks. Tell the Council to save funds somewhere else. I will happily pay £20 p.a. park tax if there won't be any music festivals and similar noisy events.
It's a park not a racing track. Also the council have done the worst commercial deal I have ever heard of. If the justification for this closure of the park is financial gain to the borough then it is misplaced. The tragically pathetic amount of revenue generated is in no way commensurate with the amounts the sport and its sponsorship geberate. Who did this deal? Who sold the park and the people who use and need it down the river? The whole thing stinks. Literally.
I didn't expect it to be so disruptive weeks before the event.
Wandsworth Council are completely out of order! They need to consult the people who live in the borough before making such dreadful and damaging decisions
How dare they do this to our park? If they want to race cars use Brands Hatch - leave our park as it has been for years - a peaceful and beautiful place.
It is completely outrageous that this should be held in peaceful beautiful Battersea Park!
This is a park not a racetrack!...as my daughter said today after we tried to walk there and saw the terrible transformation + disruption. She also pointed out that young people today are criticised for not getting enough exercise + sitting in front of computers all the time so that events like this closing a valuable city park in the summer,at a weekend (and before + beyond) is disgraceful + counterproductive.
Particularly ironic when you see the article on zoos, preservation and adoption in their Formula E Programme. Sheer hypocrisy.
The Park will most probably shut completely for at least five days, but the disruption has been happening since early June with chunks of the park closed to users, and by mid June Battersea Park is a jungle of concrete, fences and tarmac; it is shoking. This means people, families, children, and the young cannot use the Park. How are the children going to access the playground safely? This is outrageous. The park must be reinstated to its formal appearance and use without delay, and no more formula car races in Battersea Park.
The parks belong to us, the people; we pay for them. No matter how much this circus is paying Wandsworth, the financial benefits will not be cascaded down to taxpayers. The park now resembles Guantanamo Bay. Why couldn't at least part of the park be left open to those of use who use it for its proper purpose? - the southern end with its trees and gardens could easily have been made available. But no doubt the organisers demanded that no-one be allowed in unless they've paid. Wandsworth had no right to do this without consultation, and I will remember this when local elections come around. I will also consider putting my name forward as the Parks for People candidate (a working title at this point).
I'm a mum with a young baby - we use this park every day. I feel like WBC have sold us out to the highest bidder. Shame on you WBC.
shame! Leave parks to the people of London.
outrageous
An absolute disgrace this has been allowed to go ahead. The Council has completely ignored the local residents and park users who are the ones who pay the council tax to keep the park running.
i agree, it's ruining our parks
I feel that this Formula E is very much against the ethos of a London Park, and am horrified by the construction that is happening, the intrusion of which has lasted a month now, before the event has even taken place.
Great letter, Alex. However, the issue is surely that this event is unsuitable for a small Victorian Park, whatever the weather, whatever the season. Cycling, walking, dog-walking, visits to the zoo, running, yoga, training, football, and so on are year-round activities. The same ugly structures would appear, the same disruption would occur, except that it might last longer, since winter nights get darker sooner, and work stops earlier. And the darkening of the evenings means that people are even more in need of escape into something green and tranquil. The only answer to this terrible Boris-inspired mess is the break clause - now.
we want car-free oasis for all