What are the future plans for London’s royal parks?

11 OCTOBER 2011

What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the organisation that manages London’s eight[1] royal parks, given planned changes to its funding and governance?[2] 

The London Assembly Environment Committee will tomorrow afternoon hold a meeting to discuss the work of The Royal Parks agency and its plans for the future.

London’s royal parks cover 5,000 acres and provide some of the biggest green spaces in the capital for around 37 million visitors each year. 

Committee Members are interested in whether the parks are run in a way that promotes environmental sustainability and biodiversity.  They will also look at the ways sports are encouraged, and how the benefits of hosting commercial events are balanced against any environmental impacts.

The following guests will attend:

  • Mark Camley – Chief Executive, The Royal Parks
  • Sir Edward Lister, Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Planning, Greater London Authority

The Environment Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday 12 October from 2.30pm in Committee Room 4 at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).  Media and members of the public are invited to attend.  The meeting can also be viewed via webcast

Notes for Editors:

  1. Bushy Park; The Green Park; Greenwich Park; Hyde Park; Kensington Gardens; The Regent’s Park (and Primrose Hill); Richmond Park; St James’s Park
  2. The Royal Parks’ Chief Executive is accountable to the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), but under Government proposals, the Mayor will gain the power to appoint the Chair and members of a new Board, providing strategic guidance.  The Royal Parks receives over half its funding from the DCMS and the remainder from other grants, fees and income from commercial events.  Following the recent Spending Review, however, the DCMS grant will reduce and the agency is cutting staff numbers.
  3. Find out more about the Committee’s work on The Royal Parks and how to contribute your views.
  4. Full agenda papers for the meeting are available.
  5. The Chair of the Environment Committee, Murad Qureshi AM, is available for interview.  See contact details below.
  6. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For media enquiries, please contact Julie Wheldon/Lisa Moore on 020 7983 4228/4283.  For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.