Barnet Council’s deputy leader is the new chair of the body responsible for several large green spaces and sports facilities in north-east London
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) has appointed a new chair and vice chair and welcomed seven new members to its board.
Ross Houston, who is also deputy leader of Barnet Council, was elected at LVRPA’s AGM by fellow board members to the role of chair of the authority, which manages a 26-mile-long park stretching from the banks of the River Thames through Ware in Hertfordshire.
Cllr Houston is joined by new vice chair Heather Johnson, a councillor in Camden. Both are long-serving members of the board, joining in 2010.
LVRPA’s board sets the strategy for the organisation and is made up of 28 elected council members, nominated by their own councils in London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Lee Valley Regional Park was created by an Act of Parliament in 1966 to become a ‘green lung’ for London and its eastern county neighbours Hertfordshire and Essex. Its 10,000 acres of open spaces and sport and leisure facilities include three Olympic legacy venues plus Myddelton House Gardens and Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Enfield, Tottenham Marshes, Walthamstow Marshes and the newly-rebuilt Lee Valley Ice Centre.
Cllr Houston replaces Paul Osborn, who spent ten years as chair of LVRPA’s board and continues to serve as an active member, chairing both the regeneration and planning committee, and land and property working group. Cllr Johnson replaces David Andrews as vice-chair.
Following his appointment, Cllr Houston said: “I’m honoured to take up the role as chair as the park approaches its milestone 60th anniversary. The importance of providing green and open spaces to support health and wellbeing has never been greater. Lee Valley Regional Park’s blend of parkland and world class sport and leisure venues attracts people from across the region and beyond and it is our duty to ensure it continues to do so.
“Our thanks go to Paul and David for their leadership and dedication to our great park over the past decade. I’m looking forward to working with the new board, which has both experienced members and new members with new ideas to help deliver our mission of providing high quality sport and recreation opportunities that increase participation and enrich the lives of our communities.”
The 28-member LVRPA board is reappointed every four years. The new members joining for the first time this year are Rosalind Dore (Waltham Forest), Troy Gallagher (Islington), Connie Hersch (Ealing), Krupa Sheth (Brent), Anthony Owen (Hertfordshire), Miriam Swainston (Hertfordshire), Ken Crofton (Hertfordshire) and George Williams (East Herts).
LVRPA chief executive Shaun Dawson said: “As long standing members of our board, Ross and Heather’s knowledge and experience will provide strong leadership and support us in providing a park that meets the needs of its diverse communities in London, the region and beyond.”
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