The park could potentially be created around Banbury Reservoir on the borough border with Waltham Forest
Local campaign groups are seeking people’s views on a proposal to create a new park on the border between Enfield and Waltham Forest boroughs.
The proposed ‘Banbury Reservoir Park’ would encompass the reservoir situated between Edmonton and Walthamstow as well some of the surrounding open space which is currently closed off to the public.
Environmental groups CPRE London and Enfield Climate Action Forum are promoting the proposal for the park and are now seeking views from residents. A ‘community hub’ event is due to take place at Fore Street Library in Angel Edmonton on Thursday, 28th September, between 10.30am and 4pm.
Much of the land that would potentially form the park is owned and managed by Thames Water, while Enfield Council, Waltham Forest Council and four private businesses are also landowners within the proposed park’s boundary.
However, there are precedents for operational reservoirs and their surroundings to be turned into public spaces, with Woodberry Wetlands and Walthamstow Wetlands having opened in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Alice Roberts from CPRE London said: “This is one of our ‘ten new parks for London‘ campaigns. These are all sites where protected green space, often in private ownership, is neglected or derelict.
“The cycle of decline means it often ends up threatened with development, then lost forever. Often these sites are in areas like Edmonton which don’t have enough green space.”
Vicki Pite from EnCaf added: “Our ambition to see a large country park in Edmonton is a question of fairness, of addressing health and environmental inequalities between the east and west of our borough.
“Accessible green space must be located where it’s most needed to provide facilities for health and well being and to alleviate the harmful effects of air pollution and extreme temperatures.”
The survey seeking views on Banbury Reservoir Park has received more than 300 responses so far, with a stall held at Kenninghall Festival in Edmonton last Sunday (10th).
Regarding the upcoming event at Fore Street Library, Francis Sealey from EnCaf said: “Community hubs provide a form of grassroots democracy where people can get together to discuss issues of local concern through dialogue and not confrontation. It is a process of engagement that can successfully develop community outcomes and produce positive ways to work with statutory authorities.”
For more information about the Banbury Reservoir Park campaign and to take part in the survey:
Visit brparkcampaign.org
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