'Save our parks' petition discussed
20 October 2016
The Communities and Local Government Committee receives a petition signed by more than 273,000 people during an evidence session for its inquiry into the future of public parks.
Witnesses
Monday 24 October 2016, Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
At 4.00pm
- 38 Degrees
At 4.15pm
- Sue Ireland, Vice Chair, The Parks Alliance
- Peter Neal, Author of State of UK Parks 2016
- Ellie Robinson, Assistant Director of External Affairs, National Trust
- Drew Bennellick, Head of Landscape and Natural Heritage UK, Heritage Lottery Fund
At 5.00pm
- Dave Morris, Chair, National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces
- Ben Shimshon, Founding Partner, Britain Thinks
- Emma Boggis, Chief Executive, Sports and Recreation Alliance
- Will Smithard, Strategic Projects Director, ukactive
Purpose of the session
Representatives of the online petition website 38 Degrees present the 'save our parks' petition to the Committee before being asked why they think local authorities should have a statutory duty to protect and maintain public parks.
The Committee also questions a number of organisations on the impact of reduced local authority budgets, the role of friends groups and volunteers, and which management models for parks councils should consider.
Public parks inquiry
The Committee has received nearly 400 formal written evidence submissions and more than 13,000 surveys completed online or face to face in parks since launching its inquiry in July 2016.
Further information
Image: iStockphoto