Mayor on track to transform ‘London’s Great Outdoors’

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s vision to improve public spaces across the capital was boosted today, as he unveiled two major projects that are transforming Redbridge.

In just under a year, 20 projects have already been completed under the Mayor’s London’s Great Outdoors initiative, revamping neglected corners of the capital and creating cleaner, greener and more pleasant public spaces for Londoners to enjoy.

The Mayor’s vision is for London to become the best big city in the world. By 2012, people living, working and visiting the city will be able to enjoy a total of 86 completed major public realm improvements and a greener city with 10,000 newly planted street trees.

In Redbridge, the Mayor was joined by Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council, where they visited the vastly improved Gants Hill interchange. Major works carried out by Transport for London have helped make this a much easier to use junction for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, with new lighting, traffic signals and pedestrian and cycle crossings to reduce congestion for vehicles. Pavements and carriageways have all been resurfaced and later this month new trees will be planted. The scheme has resulted in improved traffic and pedestrian flows through the area and also seen the creation of brand new public spaces for use by residents and visitors alike.

The Mayor then visited Fairlop Waters Country Park, which 3,500 Londoners voted as a winner in Boris Johnson’s ‘Help a London Park’ initiative. Fairlop is one of 10 parks in the capital that received £400,000 funding from the Mayor to deliver a fantastic makeover. Previously the Redbridge Park had little on offer for youngsters and access to the green space was via a very busy road. Part of the funding was used to create paths which link the park directly with a new zebra crossing by the tube station, making access to the park safer. The project has also delivered new paths and cycle ways, better signage, a natural play park for children, plus a 'Boulder Park' for climbers of all ages and abilities.

The Mayor Boris Johnson said:

"The face of London is transforming before our very eyes and I am delighted with the speed of improvements taking place. Whether they are new green spaces, town squares or infrastructure improvements, each project is transforming a new corner of London into a better place to use and enjoy. In Redbridge’s case these two major projects work together brilliantly for local people, with a vastly improved major transport interchange connecting them quickly to the glorious wonders of the green and spacious Fairlop Park.

"In just under two years, London will be packed with visitors for the 2012 Games who will find a green, clean city brimming with confidence. In addition to our world famous tourist gems, they'll be spoilt for choice with the new and renewed public spaces we are creating, not just in the centre but across the world’s best big city."

Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council, said;

"I’m delighted the Mayor of London can join us in marking these two major projects for Redbridge. Local residents, businesses and motorists have been very patient while works take place at Gants Hill and I hope they will agree that these improvements have transformed the area, making it much more appealing for visitors.

"Fairlop Waters is also a key attraction for the borough and thanks to the Mayor of London’s Help a London Park funding, we have given residents more reason to visit. The Boulder Park in particular has been very popular since it was installed and I know many residents voted to make sure these improvements could be made and will enjoy the benefits for years to come."

Notes to editors

1. The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, London Development Agency, Design for London and Transport for London. For further information please go to www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors

2. Twenty London's Great Outdoors projects have been delivered so far (see below), 30 are in progress and a further 36 projects will be delivered by 2012.

Oxford Circus* Westminster

Great Queen St Camden

Aldgate Gyratory/Braham St Park Tower Hamlets

Coulsdon Town Centre Croydon

Woolwich Town Centre - Woolwich New Road Greenwich

Greenford Town Centre Ealing

Camden High Street North Camden

Goswell Triangle Islington

Windrush Square Lambeth

Orpington Town Centre Bromley

Herne Hill Lambeth

Gants Hill Redbridge

Newton Park Ecology Farm Harrow

St Chad's Park Barking and Dagenham

Brompton Cemetery Kensington and Chelsea

Ravensbourne Greenway,Beckenham Palace Park Lewisham

Hounslow Heath Hounslow

Hogsmill Bridge Kingston

Fairlop Plains Country Park Redbridge

Parkland Walk Haringey

For examples and images send an email to economicdesk@london.gov.uk

3. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, awarded £400,000 to ten parks across London and £2 million to Burgess Park in Southwark through his Help a London Park scheme. The ten parks were chosen after a public vote and the scheme aims to make the winning parks safer and better places to relax and play in. For more information go to: www.london.gov.uk/parksvote/ Help a London Park is part of 'London's Great Outdoors - A Manifesto for Public Space’ - the Mayor of London’s vision for improving streets, squares, parks, and green and water spaces in the capital. Over the next three years £220 million from Transport for London, the London Development Agency, London’s boroughs and others will be invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects.

‘London's Great Outdoors - A Manifesto for Public Space’ is supported by two practical guides, ‘Better Streets’ and ‘Better Green and Water Spaces’. Together they set out the Mayor of London’s vision for improving public spaces in London. This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the capital.

They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see more than £390 million invested in almost 100 public realm improvement projects, funding for which comes from Transport for London, the London Development Agency and London’s boroughs as well as other sources. The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both the pedestrians and vehicles, reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways.