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Tower Hamlets' street campaigners create a parklet

27 May 2019
The parklet on Bethnal Green Road
The parklet on Bethnal Green Road

 

Campaign group Better Streets for Tower Hamlets installed a 'guerilla' parklet in a parking bay in East London to highlight ways of making town centres greener and healthier places.

The 24-hour parklet was created without permission from the local authority on Bethnal Green Road on 19 May.

Better Streets for Tower Hamlets says it wants to make streets places where people can walk and cycle in safety and comfort. It argues that streets which are full of people relaxing and socialising will boost local businesses.

The campaign wants:

  • School Streets closed to motor vehicles at pick-up and drop-off time
  • Low-traffic neighbourhoods in every ward
  • Zero days with air pollution over the legal maximum
  • More secure residents’ and visitors’ cycle parking from the borough and developers
  • More spaces without motor traffic to increase high street footfall & create spaces for people

Activist and Bethnal Green resident Madeleine Pelzel said: “A space for just one car has been replaced by seating, lots of plants, and parking for several bikes. Households without cars in Tower Hamlets outnumber those that have them by two to one, but a huge amount of space in our streets is devoted to car storage.

“Surely we can use some of it for different purposes? Why not allow people to use the space? Parklets can also be made into lovely places to look at such as a mini-garden, and add a lot to the sense of community on a street. You don’t have to be a customer of anywhere to sit and enjoy a space like this, and it means you are more likely to meet your neighbours.

“Infrastructure and the design of our cities fosters and creates our social behaviour, for good and for bad. Parklets on busy high streets and in residential areas are a tried and tested success story. I think the most important thing in terms of how we want our communities to be designed and to function is that we have a choice. Do we want half the public thoroughfare reserved for parked private objects?”

Activist and Limehouse resident Terry Patterson said: “It’s great to see people enjoying public space in a creative way. Behind this fun event is a serious message. In the face of the health-threatening pollution and congestion affecting all Londoners it’s time to rethink how we use our streets. Let’s create space for young people, the elderly, and all residents to walk, cycle, rest, play and enjoy the street.”

Activist and Shoreditch resident Julie Plichon said: “We live in increasingly dense environments and our streets need to be healthy and inclusive spaces. Access to high quality open spaces is crucial, and today we demonstrated how small scale interventions are part of the answer.”

The campaign is supported by Living Streets Tower Hamlets, Friends of the Earth Hackney and Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Wheelers, Liberty Arts, St Margaret’s House, the East London Environment Network, the Roman Road Trust, Social Streets, Sustrans London, the Women’s Environmental Network, Friends of Meath Gardens and BikeWorks.

Specialist Transport Services Manager
Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
GRADE 13 (£58,797 - £63,735)
Specialist Transport Services Manager
Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
GRADE 13 (£58,797 - £63,735)
Specialist Transport Services Manager
Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
GRADE 13 (£58,797 - £63,735)
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