Public Document Pack
Epping Forest Consultative Committee
Date: WEDNESDAY, 13 JUNE 2018 Time: 7.00 pm Venue: HOPE CENTRE AT ST MARY'S CHURCH, 201 HIGH RD, LOUGHTON, IG10 1BB
Members: Deputy Philip Woodhouse (Chairman) Graeme Smith (Deputy Chairman) Judith Adams Jo Blackman Martin Boyle Jill Carter Susan Creevy Matthew Frith Tim Harris Andy Irvine Robert Levene Paul Morris Gordon Turpin Enid Walsh Tim Wright Verderer Dr. Joanna Thomas Verderer Michael Chapman DL Sylvia Moys Benjamin Murphy Verderer Melissa Murphy
Enquiries: Leanne Murphy [email protected]
NB: Part of this meeting could be the subject of audio or video recording
John Barradell Town Clerk and Chief Executive AGENDA
1. APOLOGIES
2. DECLARATIONS
3. MINUTES To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2018.
For Decision (Pages 1 - 8)
4. MINUTES OF THE EPPING FOREST & CITY COMMONS COMMITTEE
For Information a) 15 January 2018 To receive the minutes of the Epping Forest and City Commons Committee meeting held on 15 January 2018.
(Pages 9 - 18)
b) 12 March 2018 To receive the minutes of the Epping Forest and City Commons Committee meeting held on 12 March 2018.
(Pages 19 - 26)
c) 14 May 2018 To receive the minutes of the Epping Forest and City Commons Committee meeting held on 14 May 2018.
(Pages 27 - 34)
5. EPPING FOREST - SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE FOR DECEMBER 2017 TO MARCH 2018 (SEF 25/18) Report of Superintendent of Epping Forest.
For Information (Pages 35 - 52)
6. CYCLICAL WORKS PROGRAMME BID - 2019/20 Report of the City Surveyor.
For Discussion (Pages 53 - 60) 7. LONDON BOROUGH OF CULTURE OPENING EVENT (SEF 28/18) Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 61 - 70)
8. THE JUBILEE LONDON PLANE AVENUE, WOODFORD GREEN: FUTURE MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS (SEF 27/18) Report of Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 71 - 98)
9. THE WOODFORD GREEN CHESTNUT AVENUE: FUTURE MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS (SEF 29/18) Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 99 - 110)
10. WANSTEAD & MANOR FLATS SCRUB MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (SEF 26/18) Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 111 - 128)
11. EPPING FOREST PLAY POLICY (SEF 31/18) Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 129 - 140)
12. PROPOSAL FOR A PLAY AREA AT WANSTEAD PARK (SEF 30/18) Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 141 - 164)
13. PROPOSAL FOR EXPERIMENTAL TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER ON FAIRMEAD ROAD, HIGH BEACH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ESSEX HIGHWAYS (SEF 32/18) Report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage.
For Discussion (Pages 165 - 180)
14. QUESTIONS
15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
3 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 3
EPPING FOREST CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Minutes of the meeting of the Epping Forest Consultative Committee held at the Hope Centre, 201 High Rd, Loughton, IG10 1BB at 7.00 pm
Present
Members: Deputy Philip Woodhouse - Chairman Ruth Holmes - London Parks & Gardens Graeme Smith - Deputy Chairman Trust Judith Adams - Epping Forest Heritage Trust Andy Irvine - Bushwood Area Residents Carol Pummell (on behalf of Godfrey Baillon- Association Bending) - Epping Forest Riders Association Robert Levene - Buckhurst Hill Community Jo Blackman - Friends of Wanstead Association Parklands Paul Morris - Epping Forest Forum Martin Boyle - Theydon Bois & District Rural Gordon Turpin - Highams Park Planning Preservation Society Group Jill Carter - Highams Residents Association Enid Walsh - Open Spaces Society Susan Creevy - Loughton Residents Tim Wright - Orion Harriers Association Verderer Dr. Joanna Thomas Matthew Frith - London Wildlife Trust Verderer Michael Chapman DL Tim Harris - WREN Wildlife & Conservation Verderer Peter Adams Group
Officers: Colin Buttery Director of Open Spaces Paul Thomson Superintendent, Epping Forest Jeremy Dagley Head of Conservation Jo Hurst Business Manager, Epping Forest Alistair MacLellan Town Clerk's Department Leanne Murphy Town Clerk’s Department Carl Locsin Town Clerk’s Department Geoff Sinclair Head of Operations, Epping Forest Jacqueline Eggleston Head of Visitor Services, Epping Forest Martin Newnham Head Forest Keeper, Epping Forest
1. APOLOGIES There were no apologies.
2. MEMBERS' DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA Mr Tim Wright declared an interest that the Orion Harriers are a tenant of the City Corporation.
Page1 1 3. TERMS OF REFERENCE The Epping Forest Business Manager updated Members on the Terms of Reference of the Committee. She noted that some items that went before the Epping Forest and Commons Committee were deemed non-public and would therefore not come before this Committee. Members will need to determine some outstanding governance issues including quorum, Member conduct etc. over the coming year. If Members wished to discuss items that were not listed on agendas going forward, they could contact the Town Clerk in advance of the meeting.
A Member referred to the note on the front of the agenda pack regarding the potential audio or video recording of part of the meeting. The Town Clerk advised that this is standard wording to advise that members of the public may record part(s) of a meeting. In these instances, the individual(s) would be encouraged to film only the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and City of London Officers, and not Members or fellow members of the public.
RESOLVED – that Members note the Terms of Reference and the fact that further items such as the quorum, etc, would be agreed by the Committee’s fourth meeting.
4. EPPING FOREST & COMMONS COMMITTEE DRAFT MINUTES The Committee noted the Minutes of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee held on 20 November 2017 and the draft Minutes of the subsequent meeting held on 15 January 2018 which was circulated by email. It was noted that these Minutes were circulated purely as an example to Committee Members.
5. EPPING FOREST & COMMONS COMMITTEE AGENDA The Committee noted the Agenda of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee held on 15 January 2018.
The Chairman stated that the Minutes and Agenda had been provided to Members to establish a precedent that would give Members a flavour of how discussions could develop once issues were submitted to the Epping Forest & Commons Committee for approval. The agenda might also give Members of the Consultative Committee ideas for agendas at future meetings. He encouraged Members of the Consultative Committee to provide any thoughts and ideas for the development of the Consultative Committee going forward.
A Member queried whether Members would be given the opportunity to comment on reports on the agenda prior to meetings going forward. The Chairman emphasised that the role of the Consultative Committee was to act as a sounding board on reports and policies that would then be submitted to the Epping Forest & Commons Committee for approval.
6. WELCOME PRESENTATION AND SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE Members received a welcome presentation from the Superintendent of Epping Forest and noted his report summarising progress with the work programme at Epping Forest across October and November 2017.
Page 2 Of particular note was further progress on the passage of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill; continuing high levels of fly tipping averaging 55% up on the previous year; the completion of the surfacing of the Woodford Green wayleave; continuing Operational works majoring on tree safety and wood pasture restoration, together with a successful series of visitor events and very positive publicity for the 800 year celebration for the Forest Charter through both national media and the Lord Mayor’s Show.
A Member required clarification on what was meant by ‘cannabis’ in the graph regarding the types of fly-tip waste. The Superintendent clarified that this meant horticultural waste from illegal cannabis farms, e.g. spent soil, etc, rather than cannabis itself.
Regarding the reorganisation of the Forest Keeper team, a Member highlighted the role of Forest Keepers and valued work they do educating children that visit the Forest. It was queried how this factored into the planned reorganisation as some Members were keen for this educational role to stay. The Superintendent advised that it was important for the focus on staffing to be centred on key operational areas such as dedicated officers specialising on fly tipping prosecutions to address the increasing issue of fly tipping, which currently costs the City of London £300,000 annually. The Superintendent hoped that arrangements could be developed to see third party providers supporting bushcraft schemes rather than the Forest Keepers. It was agreed that wider discussion would be necessary to take into consideration the challenges of managing regulations versus the value of social engagement.
A Member queried whether the City Corporation was engaging with local councils regarding waste management and the new restrictions on non- household waste at many reception centres and charges on the collection of bulky goods that have recently been introduced. The Superintendent confirmed that the City Corporation did engage with Local Authorities and agreed that the charges were a key driver for increased fly tipping, but also noted the financial constraints that all Local Authorities were operating under.
Members discussed the considerable income generated by local sports teams against the costs associated with the large amount of litter generated after match days. An Officer noted that sports organisers received clear terms and conditions about cleaning up after matches but admitted that it had traditionally been difficult to enforce this as the identity of the perpetrators was not always clear. The Head of Visitor Services advised Members that a new booking structure was being introduced, with effect from 1 March 2018, of teams being signed in and out and pitches checked after each game.
The Superintendent advised that football does not generate income but is subsidised by £120,000 each year, reflecting the level of subsidy provided by most Local Authorities. It was noted that littering associated with informal use from non-league members during the summer months was an ongoing issue and spectators were particularly guilty of causing a high amount of littering which will need to be attributed to the relevant teams. Members agreed to be vigilant of these issues and report wrongdoing recognising that there are a
Page 3 large number of volunteers that also help clear litter across the Forest. The Chairman praised the work of volunteers and thanked them for the vital role they play.
Members discussed the benefits of formally registering the Forest with the Land Registry. The Superintendent advised that registration was a formal legal protection that publicly identified land held in trust by the City Corporation. This large project had been completed over the last three years leaving only a small number of complex boundary cases remaining. Members were advised that an outturn report on the project would be brought before the Committee in due course.
A member queried when the consultation period would start on deer management. The Superintendent advised that a tender for the review of Deer Policy would be undertaken in the Spring with a public consultation expected in Autumn 2018.
Members raised concerns over the reduced budget of £2.9m, which they felt was not particularly high, and queried how much it had fallen in recent years. The Superintendent advised that City of London funding had fallen by 22.5% since 2010/11. However, Epping Forest had during that time raised additional income from forest activities.
Members were disappointed with the announcement that the lakes in Wanstead Park had recently been classed as High Risk by the Environment Agency. The Superintendent advised that a helpful meeting with the Environment Agency’s National Flood Manager had taken place and that a specialist engineer is likely to request an engineering feasibility study on the next inspection scheduled in the Spring. It was noted that the cascades on Hampstead Heath had previously received engineering assessments which had required extensive improvement work to address new risks and that the City Corporation was proud of the sympathetic works they had successfully completed there.
7. EPPING FOREST OPERATIONS PROGRAMME FOR 2018/19 Members received a summary of progress on the Epping Forest Operations Programme for 2018/19. Officers outlined the conservation, visitor access and risk management projects proposed in the Forest for the year 2018/19. It was noted that the biggest part of the project would be the HLS wood-pasture restoration.
A Member queried how skylark conservation was progressing considering the problems being incurred at Wimbledon Common. The Head of Conservation, Landscape & Heritage advised that there had been difficulties maintaining numbers of breeding pairs and he was very grateful for the work of volunteers who were continuing to monitor the local skylark population. It was noted that an in-depth survey was being carried out for the first time since 2015 in an attempt to clarify issues affecting the population.
It was queried whether the City Corporation had been liaising with the relevant Local Authority regarding the key crossing point at Highams Park following the
Page 4 meeting on site as there were suggestions that the Local Authority had funds to put towards the project but were awaiting feedback from the City Corporation. The Head of Conservation, Landscape & Heritage advised that discussions regarding clearing some of the Forest adjacent to the crossing had taken place and that further discussions would continue.
Members were concerned about the phytophthora ramorum disease outbreak which had now been found in Sweet Chestnut in the same location as the original outbreak. The Head of Conservation explained that the further outbreaks were disappointing and he expected further works to remove the remaining infected areas to take place shortly.
A Member noted that there were a number of both short and long-term plans governing the management of the Forest. He felt that Members required clarification of what the long-term plans were in order to understand the full picture. The Superintendent advised that a 30-page Management Plan summary bringing everything together was in final draft and would be coming to Members in the Spring 2018.
It was noted that a set management plan was overdue and Members requested more information on when this was coming and how it would be circulated. The Head of Operations advised that there was a big agenda to address and that the strategy would set out a 30-year timeframe giving an overall sense of direction alongside a three-year plan to deal with urgent matters.
RESOLVED –
that Members approved the annual work programme as summarised in the main report;
that coloured versions of any maps would be circulated (or included in agendas) and would be put up on screen at meetings going forward.
8. EPPING FOREST BUFFER LANDS - ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS REVIEW The Committee considered a report from the Director of Open Spaces regarding the Annual Agricultural Holdings review of the Epping Forest Buffer Lands. Members were advised that buffer lands are a multifunctional and valuable commodity including a number of important features such as tenants, farm businesses (with licenses that are reviewed and renewed), management of grass and grazing herd and an area of importance to wildlife.
The Chairman drew specific attention to the Corporate and Strategic Implications listed within the report (paragraph 29) which meet the City of London Corporate Plan’s (2015-19) key policy priorities of:
maximising the opportunities and benefits afforded by our role in supporting London’s communities;
Page 5 increasing the outreach and impact of the City’s cultural, heritage and leisure contribution to the life of London and the nation.
9. EPPING FOREST EVENTS POLICY Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the Epping Forest Events Policy and were advised that they were the first Committee to see the policy, which is currently a draft document, and would be going to all the relevant Committees at the City of London Corporation for approval.
The Head of Visitor Services noted that the aim of this work was to add clarity on the rules regarding events at Epping Forest as there currently was no policy in place. It was noted that the public would see a simpler web-based system which Epping Forest are currently trialling. The Chairman requested that members be notified when the final version goes live.
Members queried whether there was a cut-off point on what can be done in the Forest without having to go through the process of advising the City Corporation and paying a fee. An Officer advised there was a cut-off of approximately 50 participants, although this would depend on the activity and its impact on the Forest, the overall aims were to prevent damage to the Forest, manage the local impact on facilities enjoyed by all and to prevent user conflict. It was noted that it was particularly important to notify the City Corporation of vulnerable groups who planned to use the Forest. Members agreed a clear statement of what the benchmark was would be vital and what to do if a potential applicant was unsure.
A Member noted that there were lots of local groups doing activities at Wanstead Park and wondered whether they would need to pay the £25 fee each time. An Officer explained that the fee was to cover the application process, and this would have to be covered in the first instance. If a group had ongoing, regular activities, this would only need to be done once annually and ongoing dialogue with the City Corporation regarding dates, numbers, etc, would suffice. Any group that has a reasonable impact on the Forest and/or other users must engage in dialogue with the City Corporation.
A Verderer disagreed with the distinction between two categories of those applying to host an event separated by not-for-profit and charity as some charities, particularly the larger charities, arguably had a commercial element and would seek to make money from the event. An Officer advised that the costs for charities and not-for-profit would be based on the percentage of income or entrance fee.
A Member noted that in his view the visitor capacities listed for sites in the Forest were too generous. An Officer explained that this was worked out based on an accepted formula of how many people can fit into the space available. Members were encouraged to advise the Town Clerk of any perceived inaccuracies in numbers so these can be revised.
Page 6 Regarding the concern on the use of drones at events, the Head Forest Keeper advised Members that a draft policy on drones was in progress and would be coming to the Committee for comment.
RESOLVED – That Members support the policy approach outlined in the report and the policies attached as Appendices 1-3.
10. QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE The Chairman encouraged Members and members of the public to advise the Town Clerk of any written questions going forward.
A member of the public recommended that there be a sport representative, in particular someone with a golf connection, to sit on the Committee as there are a number of local and established golf clubs in the area. It was queried whether a person could be co-opted onto the Committee.
Members requested clarification on the process for members of the public to approach the Committee. It was recommended that any queries from the public be submitted to the Town Clerk at least two weeks prior to a meeting to ensure that they receive a substantive answer from the Committee at the meeting. The same was recommended if a Member wanted to suggest an item for the agenda in order to help Officers investigate issues.
Regarding Members that represent a group, it was asked if a substitute could be sent in a Member’s place if they are unable to attend a meeting. The Committee agreed this would be acceptable provided that the Town Clerk was advised in advance. The Epping Forest Business Manager noted that this principle would need to be added to the Committee’s Terms of Reference.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT The Epping Forest Business Manager noted that the Committee currently had three Verderers and that a space was available for a fourth Verderer. Members were advised that the person must be a resident of a Forest Parish and cannot be a member of the City of London Corporation’s Court of Common Council. Details were available on the Verderer page of the City Corporation website and the closing date for applications was 5 February 2018 at midday.
The Chairman concluded the meeting and thanked Members on a successful first meeting. Members, in turn, thanked the Chairman and were pleased with the meeting.
12. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING The Town Clerk undertook to set the date of the next meeting of the Committee outside of the meeting, noting that it would take place at some point in June 2018 at the Hope Centre in Loughton. At the request of the Chairman, the Town Clerk also agreed to set the dates of the next three meetings.
Page 7 The meeting closed at 9.00 pm
Chairman
Contact Officer: Leanne Murphy / [email protected]
Page 8 Agenda Item 4a
EPPING FOREST & COMMONS COMMITTEE Monday, 15 January 2018
Minutes of the meeting of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee held at Committee Room - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall on Monday, 15 January 2018 at 11.30 am
Present Members: Deputy Philip Woodhouse (Chairman) Peter Bennett Alderman Sir Roger Gifford Caroline Haines Gregory Lawrence Alderman Gregory Jones QC Sylvia Moys Barbara Newman Graeme Smith (Deputy Chairman) Verderer Peter Adams Verderer Michael Chapman DL Verderer Dr. Joanna Thomas Jeremy Simons Oliver Sells QC (Ex-Officio Member)
Officers: Paul Thomson - Superintendent, Epping Forest Alison Elam - Chamberlain's Department Roger Adams - City Surveyor's Department Natasha Dogra - Town Clerk's Department Andy Barnard - Superintendent, The Commons Colin Buttery - Director of Open Spaces & Heritage Jo Hurst - Open Spaces Department Jacqueline Eggleston - Open Spaces Department
1. APOLOGIES There were no apologies.
2. MEMBERS' DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA There were no declarations of interest.
3. MINUTES Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.
Members noted that the Committee would soon receive a report regarding the costs related to fly tipping incidents in Epping Forest.
4. SCHEDULE OF VISITS 2018 Resolved – that the schedule of visits be agreed for the ensuing year.
Page 9 Members discussed the number of visits to the Commons. The Committee agreed that it was helpful for Members of the local groups and consultative committees to visit the relevant areas.
5. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE Members received a general update on issues across the nine sites within ‘The Commons’ division that may be of interest to members and is supplementary to the monthly email updates.
The Committee were informed that on 7th January, 38 travellers’ units arrived on Burnham Beeches. Eviction notices were served the day after and all units left voluntarily. The Committee agreed that the recording of registration number of the vehicles should be logged centrally so that information could be lawfully shared to track the movement of travellers to and from City Corporation sites.
Members said that the Rotary Club raised and donated £1,000 to the site. The Committee placed on record their thanks to the Club.
RESOLVED – that the update be received.
6. ASHTEAD COMMON TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2017 The Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2017 for Ashtead Common were presented in the format required by the Charity Commission.
In response to a query, Members noted that there was no legacy policy currently in place but was being investigated by the Fundraising Board to be incorporated across all of the City Corporation’s open spaces.
RESOLVED - that the report be received.
7. BURNHAM BEECHES AND STOKE COMMON TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2017 The Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2017 for Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common were presented in the format required by the Charity Commission.
RESOLVED – that the report be received.
8. WEST WICKHAM COMMON AND SPRING PARK WOOD COULSDON AND OTHER COMMONS TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2017 The Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2017 for West Wickham Common and Spring Park Wood, Coulsdon and Other Commons were presented in the format required by the Charity Commission. Officers were instructed to keep a close eye on levels of funding available to the Commons post Brexit.
Page 10 RESOLVED – that the report be received.
9. THE KENLEY FUND Members were informed that a fundraising appeal was organised jointly by the Kenley Airfield Friends Group and the City Corporation in 2005 to raise funds for the Coulsdon and Other Commons Charity to acquire the World War II Officer’s Mess site that adjoins Kenley Common (the Kenley Fund).
RESOLVED – that Members: · Agree to credit to the Kenley Fund the interest that would have been accrued to date, debiting the West Wickham and Coulsdon Commons local risk budget by the amount that the City could have attained for this fund, namely £3,315.03 to 31 March 2017. · Instruct the Superintendent of The Commons to seek a suitable project (or projects) to be funded by the Kenley Fund, in consultation with the Kenley Airfield Friends Group.
10. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE Members received a summary of progress with the work programme at Epping Forest across October and November 2017.
Of particular note was further progress on the passage of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill; continuing high levels of fly tipping averaging 55% up on the previous year; the completion of the surfacing of the Woodford Green wayleave; continuing Operational works majoring on tree safety and wood pasture restoration, together with a successful series of visitor events and very positive publicity for the 800 year celebrations for the Forest Charter through both national media and the Lord Mayor’s Show.
A Member raised a query regarding the pruning of trees as a defensive measure. Officers said this was a difficult topic and individual insurance claims were vigorously challenged. In response to a query regarding Wanstead Flats and the football club Members noted that the public preferred to play on weeknights and on astro-turf pitches. Members were informed that the sweet chestnut infected was situated at The Warren. It had been felled but the area remained under close inspections
RESOLVED – that the update be received.
11. APPOINTMENT OF A VERDERER OF EPPING FOREST Members were informed that following the resignation of Richard Morris OBE who has served as a Verderer of Epping Forest since 1998, the Committee is asked to note the vacancy for one northern Forest Parish Verderer and, taking into account that the septennial elections are not scheduled to take place until 2020, approve the commencement of an appointment process to result in the selection of a new Verderer of Epping Forest.
The Committee agreed that the shortlisting should be done by the Superintendent, and the interviews would take place at the Warren. Members agreed that the working party should consist of the Chairman, Deputy
Page 11 Chairman, Verderer Chapman, Verderer Thomas, Verderer Adams, Mrs Haines, Mrs Newman and the Director of Open Spaces.
RESOLVED – that Members: 1. Noted the vacancy for a Verderer of Epping Forest. 2.Approved the commencement of an appointment process to select a northern Forest Parish Verderer of Epping Forest (in line with the requirements of the Epping Forest Acts 1878 & 1880) for a tenure of Office to conclude in 2020 ahead of the septennial elections of all four Verderers of Epping Forest. 3. Approved the composition of a Working Party to consider applications for the position of a Verderer of Epping Forest. 4. Approved the proposed timetable for the appointment process.
12. EPPING FOREST TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2017 The Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2017 for Epping Forest were presented in the format required by the Charity Commission.
RESOLVED – that the report be received.
13. PARTICIPATION IN A TREES OUTSIDE WOODS (TOWS) JOINT PROJECT BID TO HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND Members noted that the national trees and woodlands protection charity, the Woodland Trust (WT), is developing a Trees Outside Woods (TOWs) Project across England & Wales for a Stage 1 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and other funders during 2018.
Members requested information regarding the City Corporation’s long term investment in relation to the project, and asked Officers to circulate information regarding the City’s commitment to resources.
RESOLVED – that Members approve the joint development, with OneEppingForest and other partners, of a draft project proposal under the Trees Outside Woods umbrella project, for inclusion in WT‟s Stage 1 bid(s) to the Heritage Lottery Fund, subject to the draft proposal being submitted to Grand Committee for scrutiny prior to any final agreement on submission of a project bid.
14. COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP GRANT SCHEME APPLICATION Since 2008 funding has been received as grants from the government’s Entry and Higher Levels within the Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS). Over the life of this ESS (2008-2018) these grant monies will have brought in a total of over £1.77 million in revenue, providing vital support for approved habitat conservation work under the Epping Forest Management Plan (EF Plan). This funding been used to support EF Plan prescriptions for undertaking essential maintenance and restoration of the internationally and nationally-important habitats throughout Epping Forest.
Page 12 The agreement with Natural England under ESS terminates in October 2018. The successor scheme to ESS is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), which is aimed at continuing to provide similar focused support for essential biodiversity conservation in England.
The preparation of the application would be undertaken until mid-summer 2018, during which period the Management Plan Steering Group would be consulted on the application, for approval by Grand Committee in July 2018. If approved the application would be submitted to Natural England and if accepted the CSS agreement would commence on 1st January 2019.
Members queried the strain on resources including staff time; the Superintendent was satisfied that staff would be available to dedicated time to the project.
RESOLVED – that Members: note the application preparation process (‘Proposals’ section). give approval for officers to make a formal request to enter the CS Scheme’s application process to Natural England by mid-spring 2018. approve the consideration of the CSS application by the Management Plan Steering Group during spring/summer 2018 prior to seeking approval from Grand Committee for its submission to Natural England.
15. COW POND RESTORATION BY FROGLIFE THROUGH BID TO HLF The charity Froglife is proposing a bid the Heritage Lottery Fund for funds to enhance toad and other amphibian habitats around London. In addition to restoring habitats, Froglife aims to inform and involve local community and volunteer groups through its project. Working with your officers at Epping Forest, Froglife would like to put forward Cow Pond, Leyton Flats, as one of the seven ponds that it is looking to restore as part of its project.
Should the bid be successful this would see a £30,000 contract being awarded for the restoration of Cow Pond, involving its re-excavation and re-shaping within its current area. The funding would ensure that no costs would be incurred by the Epping Forest local risk budgets for achieving this restoration. This would represent a significant enhancement of the Forest ponds network in line with the existing Forest Management Plan vision. This would also help to enhance the favourable condition of the Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Leyton Flats area as well as maintaining an historic pond location. Members noted that maintenance costs and responsibility would remain with the City Corporation.
A Member was concerned regarding the level of pollution in the pond, and the costs that could be incurred by the City going forward. Some Members did not believe that £30,000 would suffice for the project and forecast that the costs would escalate. Members asked Officers to investigate the financial stability of FrogLife; Officers said the project would be scrutinized by the monitoring officer. Members noted that the pond was a gravel pit which may drain the water. Officers said trial holes were currently being investigated and currently
Page 13 water was moving through the gravels and the pond was receiving a feed of water.
Members noted that all HLF projects would be reported through to the Priorities Board and the Corporate Asset Sub Committee for information.
RESOLVED – that Members: approve and support the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund by Froglife for funds for the restoration of Cow Pond, Leyton Flats for amphibians and other pond wildlife; and Instruct City Solicitors to assist in drawing up or overseeing agreements with Froglife in relation to the proposed works and monitoring on Forest Land.
16. REQUEST FOR HIGHWAY DEDICATION ON FOREST LAND AT GILBERT'S SLADE, WOODFORD NEW ROAD This Committee, on 20 November 2017, considered a request from the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF) for the dedication for highway purposes of approximately 66m2 of Forest Land. This report is necessary as your Committee refused the request and asked for additional information which is contained within this Report.
The dedication would enable the relocation of an existing bus-stop on Forest Land at Woodford New Road and the provision of a footway from the bus-stop to connect to a new signalised pedestrian and cyclist crossing.
In response to a query Members noted that the relocation of the bus-stop allows for the reinstatement of 32m2 as Forest Land. The resultant net loss from dedication would therefore be 34m2 prior to completion of negotiations regarding suitable compensatory land from LBWF which would seek 660m2 of land to compensate for this total loss.
The LBWF has emphasized that there is a strong road safety case for the construction of a signalised crossing based upon the accident record, traffic volume and the pedestrian / traffic ratio at this location. The Committee requested Officers to investigate with the highway authority the reduction of the speed limit to 30mph.
RESOLVED - that Members: Approve the dedication to public highway of approximately 66m2 of Forest land at Woodford New Road, of which 32m2 is already in highway use, in favour of the London Borough of Waltham Forest upon appropriate terms, including the provision of suitable compensatory land, and as further agreed by the Superintendent. Instruct the Comptroller and City Solicitor to undertake any necessary documentation.
17. 'GLAMPING' PROPOSAL FOR EPPING FOREST To help address future continuing efficiency savings requirements, this report
Page 14 proposes a feasibility study to consider the introduction of holiday accommodation on Epping Forest ‘Buffer Land’, in the form of tents, shepherds huts and/or demountable buildings. While the accommodation will be of a temporary nature, supporting infrastructure will need to be installed both below ground such as mains water and sewerage and to provide pedestrian and vehicle access.
A detailed business plan will need to be presented through the Gateway process and a tender process will be necessary. An initial forecast based on the market knowledge of one of the leading ‘glamping’ operator shows a return on investment within the second year of operation with the potential to produce a surplus for reinvestment in to the management of the Forest estimated as £67,000 net per annum based on a 40% occupancy.
Members agreed that the proposal would require careful management. The Committee were concerned over the inclusion of the Warren. It was agreed that a further report would be submitted to Committee addressing Members’ concerns before progressing any proposals. Members agreed that the site of Gaunt’s Wood should be omitted from any proposals going forward.
RESOLVED – that Members asked Officers to progress the feasibility studies and to investigate the proposals further with an in-depth report being submitted to a future Committee meeting for decision.
18. CRIPSEY BROOK - THORNWOOD FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME The Cripsey Brook Flood Storage Area includes a Small Raised Reservoir maintained by the Environment Agency using Forest Land at Thornwood Common, within Lower Forest, to site the reservoir embankment, under a licence granted by the City Corporation in March 2000 to the Environment Agency and Epping Forest District Council.
The Environment Agency is requesting permission to increase the width of the crest to 1.5m to bring the flood defence up to the statutory standard.
RESOLVED – that Members: Approve the review of the terms of the licence dated the 20 March 2000 that was granted to the Environment Agency and Epping Forest District Council to enable them to carry out works within the original licenced area to widen the rest of the Cripsey Brook dam to 1.5m but otherwise to retain all other remaining licence terms. Note that the Environment Agency is to contribute up to £2,000 towards legal costs. Instruct the Comptroller & City Solicitor to undertake any necessary documentation.
19. QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE There were no questions.
20. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT
Page 15 The Superintendent of Epping Forest bought two items to the attention of the Committee, both of which required delegated authority; Epping Forest District Council Local Plan Publication under Regulation 19 of the Town & Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, and London Borough of Waltham Forest New Local Plan Direction of Travel Consultation.
Resolved – that Members agreed to delegate authority in both cases to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
21. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC RESOLVED: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.
22. NON-PUBLIC MINUTES Resolved – that the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record.
23. WOODFORD GOLF CLUB - 2018 LICENCE FEE REVIEW The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage concerning the 2018 Licence Fee review (SEF 11/18) of Woodford Golf Club.
24. ORION HARRIERS RUNNING CLUB - LEASE RENEWAL The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage concerning the Lease Renewal (SEF 09/18) of Orion Harriers Running Club.
25. BUTLERS RETREAT CAFÉ - LEASE RENEWAL The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage concerning the Lease Renewal (SEF 08/18) of Butlers Retreat Café.
26. LEASE RENEWAL - THE ORIGINAL TEA HUT - CROSS ROADS, HIGH BEACH The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces and Heritage concerning the Lease Renewal (SEF 10/18) of the Original Tea Hut - Cross Roads, High Beach.
27. NON PUBLIC QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE There were no questions.
28. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT AND WHICH THE COMMITTEE AGREE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILST THE PUBLIC ARE EXCLUDED There was no urgent business.
The meeting ended at 1:40pm.
Page 16
Chairman
Contact Officer: Natasha Dogra [email protected]
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Page 18 Agenda Item 4b
EPPING FOREST & COMMONS COMMITTEE Monday, 12 March 2018
Minutes of the meeting of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee held at Committee Room - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall on Monday, 12 March 2018 at 11.30 am
Present
Members: Deputy Philip Woodhouse (Chairman) Peter Bennett Alderman Sir Roger Gifford Caroline Haines Gregory Lawrence Alderman Gregory Jones QC Sylvia Moys Graeme Smith (Deputy Chairman) Verderer Michael Chapman DL Verderer Dr. Joanna Thomas Jeremy Simons
Officers: Andy Barnard - Superintendent, The Commons Hadyn Robson - Open Spaces Department Colin Buttery - Director of Open Spaces & Heritage Natasha Dogra - Town Clerk's Department Geoff Sinclair - Open Spaces Department Andy Thwaites - Open Spaces Department Jo Hurst - Open Spaces Department Alison Elam - Chamberlain's Department Jacqueline Egglestone - Open Spaces Department Roger Adams - City Surveyor's Department Paul Thomson - Superintendent, Epping Forest Jeremy Dagley - Open Spaces Department Andrew Buckingham - Town Clerk's Department
1. APOLOGIES Apologies had been received from Barbara Newman and Verderer Peter Adams.
2. MEMBERS' DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA There were no declarations.
3. MINUTES The Committee considered the minutes of the previous meeting and noted that the Trees Outside Woods project was being progressed with involvement from One Epping Forest.
Page 19 Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.
4. APPOINTMENT OF VERDERER MARCH 2018 Following the resignation of Richard Morris OBE who served as a Verderer of Epping Forest since 1998, and in accordance with the Epping Forest Act (1878) the Epping Forest and Commons Committee appointed a working party to recruit to this position. The recruitment process is now complete, and the working party are able to recommend one candidate as a unanimous decision.
A Member queried whether the appointment required approval from the Court of Common Council. Officers suggested that the Court of Common Council appoint the full Committee as a body in accordance with the Act; legal advice would be sought and if Court approval was not necessary then the appointment would be effectively immediately. Otherwise the appointment would be considered by the Court of Common Council at the meeting on 19th April 2018.
Resolved – that Members endorse the selection of Melissa Murphy as Epping Forest Verderer (North) for onward approval by the Court of Common Council, if necessary.
5. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE Members noted that the purpose of the report is to summarise the Epping Forest Division’s activities across November 2017 to January 2018. Of particular note was the significant progress with the passage of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill; a major response to the Epping Forest District Council on the soundness of the proposed Local Plan, a report on the main modifications to the London Borough of Redbridge’s Local Plan recognising comments by the City Corporation and a successful Christmas Event at The View.
The Committee noted that there has been a slight increase of 2% in rough sleeper camps with one found in the Beacontree Avenue area, two on Leyton Flats, one in the Wanstead Flats and Bury wood area. These camps have been cleared, apart from one on Leyton Flats. This camp has been reported to the UK Border Enforcement Agency in the expectation that the person will be subject to enforcement action. The City Corporation is continuing to work closely with the Police, homeless organisations and the local authorities to resolve rough sleeping on the Forest.
Resolved – that the update be received.
6. EPPING FOREST OPERATIONS PROGRAMME FOR 2018/2019 Members were informed that the main theme for the habitats conservation work continues to be the grant-funded operations aimed at managing the Favourable Condition of the Site of Special Scientific Interest. The area to be worked remains at an increased hectarage of around 38 hectares across 17 of the 38 compartments to ensure that the 10-year commitments under the Environmental Stewardship Agreement with Natural England are met. Contractors, as in the last two years, will be involved in key areas of wood
Page 20 pasture and grassland management. The grazing programme will continue to expand with the key aim being to unite the Bury Wood and Chingford grazing areas to ensure more extensive, less intensive grazing over a longer season.
In response to a query, Members noted that the work programme also addresses key areas of risk, particularly those related to woody vegetation along highway verges, fly-tipping, rough sleeping and tree safety.
Members noted that an issue for the coming year will be the continuing response to and resources required in relation to the increased risk posed by tree pests and diseases. There will also be attention focused on aquatic Non- Native Invasive Species (INNS) principally New Zealand Pygmy-weed. Access along the ride network is to be addressed through tackling over-growing vegetation through systematic survey and remedial work. A new improved design of bridge is to be installed at Whitehall Plain to improve north-south visitor access connecting with the Chingford Visitor “hub”.
Officers informed Members that following a successful contract tendering process in 2015 and 2016, the programme will continue to improve the value for money we achieve using bulk contracts where possible. These contracts are proposed for retendering in 2018/19.
Resolved – that Members approve the annual work programme.
7. EPPING FOREST BUFFER LANDS - ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS REVIEW Members noted that the Buffer Lands provide essential operational underpinning of the approved Grazing Strategy, which is crucial to maintaining the Favourable Condition of the Epping Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest. The grazing of the Buffer Lands is also required for maintenance of their important parkland landscapes and is proposed to continue with both in- house and licensee grazing.
Based on external land agency advice and existing agreements, Breach Barns Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) needs to be completed and notice may be served for a 2019-20 renewal of the FBT at Netherhouse. The agricultural rental income next year from agricultural tenancies will be slightly above the 2017-18 figures, following the renewal of the FBT at Copped Hall Park (North). This report provides a summary of the main agricultural land management activities completed in 2017 – 18. It also previews proposed management and wildlife conservation operations, which will be in-line with national cross- compliance regulations.
The Forest’s conservation management objectives, as well as the Buffer Lands management, were directly supported by the Buffer Land Estate’s generation of a combined grant income expected to be over £165,000.
Resolved – that Members approved: the procurement of land agency advice for the continuation and completion of negotiations at Breach Barns, for a review of Netherhouse, Obelisk Field and
Page 21 Woodredon Estate (south) agreements and on a case-by-case basis as required, adhering to City Procurement guidelines; the procurement of contract services for the carrying out of agricultural management, including fencing and weed control, as required, following City Procurement procedures; a renewal of the 3-yr lease to the Upshire Millennium Trust on similar terms; revision of the boundary between the Woodredon North Farm Tenancy business and No 2 Green Lane Bungalow to facilitate surplus property disposal.
8. EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN Members noted an update on The Conservators’ response to the Epping Forest District Council (‘the Council’) Regulation 19 Submission Local Plan. The Council has confirmed that it will be submitting its Plan to the Planning Inspectorate by its 31 March deadline. Discussions are underway in relation to mitigating adverse impacts as part of a mitigation strategy as required under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the protection of the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC), to which The Conservators’ are co- signatories.
Members noted that the proposed mitigation measures and any proposed Statement of Common Ground with the Council would be brought before the Committee later this year for approval. Members requested a briefing note regarding the key issues be circulated prior to the Committee meeting in May.
Resolved – that Members: note the response on behalf of The Conservators’ to the Plan; note that Epping Forest District Council is seeking a Statement of Common Ground with The Conservators prior to the Plan’s Examination-in-Public; and note the consequent range of mitigation issues that are under consideration, a final prioritised list of which will be brought before Committee for approval at the earliest opportunity.
9. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE Members noted a general update on issues across the nine sites within ‘The Commons’ division that may be of interest to members and is supplementary to the monthly email updates.
Members noted that the terms of reference documents for all consultative committees had been updated in bespoke ways. The Committee noted that the next agenda item was the terms of reference for the Ashtead Common Consultative Group and that they were representative of the general minor changes made for the other Consultative Groups.
Resolved – that the update be received.
10. ASHTEAD COMMON CONSULTATIVE GROUP TERMS OF REFERENCE The Committee received the updated terms of reference for the Consultative Group and noted the changes.
Page 22 Resolved – that the Terms of Reference be agreed.
11. MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES THE COMMONS Members received the report setting out the management priorities across for the Commons for 2018-19.
Resolved – that the priorities be agreed.
12. KENLEY AIRFIELD SAFETY FENCE In January 2009 your committee received a report from the Superintendent of The Commons, detailing the refusal by Croydon Council of a planning application submitted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the erection of a 1.2m high wood and steel palisade style safety fence around Kenley Airfield. The purpose of the fence was to separate visitors to the Common from flying activities and thus minimise the associated health and safety risks.
Members noted that at that time Croydon Council recommended that the Airfield’s ‘Safety Working Group’ (SWG) investigate and trial, alternative safety measures. Shortly thereafter a trial safety system of moveable metal crowd control barriers was introduced along with a Safe Operating Procedure (SOP). The City worked closely with the MOD as part of the SWG.
A new planning application is to be submitted by the MOD to erect a permanent fencing solution that will reduce the risks to the health and safety of visitors and staff associated with high levels of recreation activity on Kenley Common and the immediate proximity to an active RAF airfield.
Resolved – that Members: i. Support the planning application submitted by the MOD as far as the application benefits the Health and Safety of visitors to Kenley Common and respects the balance required to protect the heritage landscape. ii. Authorise the Superintendent to respond as approved, to the planning application.
13. KENLEY REVIVAL PROJECT AT GATEWAY The Committee noted that 90% of the funding for the Kenley Revival Project comes from the Heritage Lottery Fund. HLF require project budgets to make provision for contingency and expect it to be used subject to their approval.
There is now the opportunity to capitalise on this success and do more to broaden the range of people involved in the project by re-scoping the activity programme for the second half of the project.
A further £28,000 is needed to deliver the following: Community archaeology - engagement of Museum of London Archaeology to supervise the dig and Unexploded Ordnance experts to fulfil a watching brief. Learning Festival Year Two - engagement of arts practitioners to deliver sessions with schools and in public libraries. Delivery of a Learning Festival Roadshow in July with tours of local libraries with workshop and a Learning
Page 23 Month in November delivering workshops in schools on the theme of Remembrance Increased amount spent on education activities including equipment purchase to do more object handling and loan box sessions, and to deliver more outreach workshops.
Resolved – that Members authorise the use of £28,000 of the contingency budget to fund changes to the activity programme.
14. QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE A Member suggested that reports regarding Wanstead Park should be considered by the Committee prudently to avoid mixed messages being publicised. The Committee noted that there were several different issues to be considered at Wanstead Park and Members should be given ample time to address the concerns of residents and others involved with the park. The Director agreed that information needed to be circulated to the Committee to allow Members to debate the subject and to ensure that Members were fully briefed. Members noted that the timetable for the project was complicated due to funding bid reviews; Officers said that the timeline would be governed by the City’s gateway processes and agreed to circulate an update report to Members. The Committee suggested that an away day covering the topic may be helpful for Members.
15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT Resolved – that the Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Town Clerk, Director of Open Spaces in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to respond to the DEFRA ‘health and harmony’ consultation by the deadline of 8th May 2018. Members requested a brief note regarding the document.
Members noted that the Epping Forest Consultative Committee had met and the membership did not currently represent the golfing community. The Committee agreed that the offers received from two members of public to join the Consultative Committee be approved.
16. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC RESOLVED: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.
17. NON-PUBLIC MINUTES Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.
18. BUTLERS RETREAT CAFÉ - LEASE RENEWAL The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces.
19. GRANT OF LEASE - CYCLE HIRE The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces.
Page 24 20. NON-PUBLIC QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE There were no questions
21. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT AND WHICH THE COMMITTEE AGREE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILST THE PUBLIC ARE EXCLUDED There was no urgent business
The meeting ended at 1:00pm
Chairman
Contact Officer: Natasha Dogra [email protected]
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Page 26 Agenda Item 4c
EPPING FOREST & COMMONS COMMITTEE Monday, 14 May 2018
Minutes of the meeting of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee held at Committee Room - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall on Monday, 14 May 2018 at 11.30 am
Present
Members: Deputy Philip Woodhouse (Chairman) Graeme Smith (Deputy Chairman) Peter Bennett Alderman Sir Roger Gifford Caroline Haines Gregory Lawrence Alderman Gregory Jones QC Sylvia Moys Verderer Michael Chapman DL Verderer Dr. Joanna Thomas Jeremy Simons Benjamin Murphy Verderer Melissa Murphy
Officers: Martin Hartup - Burnham Beeches and the Commons Paul Thomson - Superintendent, Epping Forest Alison Elam - Group Accountant, Chamberlain's Department Natasha Dogra - Town Clerk's Department Michael Radcliffe - City Solicitor's Department Mark Bailey - City Solicitor's Department Colin Buttery - Director of Open Spaces & Heritage Carl Locsin - Town Clerk's Department Jacqueline Eggleston - Open Spaces Department Jo Hurst - Open Spaces Department
1. APOLOGIES There were no apologies.
2. MEMBERS' DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA There were no declarations of interest.
3. THE ORDER OF THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL Resolved – that the order of the Court of Common Council be received.
Page 27 4. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. A list of Members eligible to stand was read and Philip Woodhouse being the only Member expressing willingness to serve was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year and took the Chair.
Resolved – that Philip Woodhouse, being the only Member expressing an interest in serving as Chairman, be elected for the ensuing year.
The Chairman thanked the Committee for their support and welcomed new Members to the Committee. The Committee expressed their thanks to Mrs Barbara Newman who had stepped down from the Committee. Members also noted the sad passing of the long serving Verderer and friend of the Committee, Peter Adams. Members expressed their thanks to Mr Adams and his family and agreed that his expertise and friendship would be dearly missed.
5. ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. A list of Members eligible to stand was read and Graeme Smith being the only Member expressing willingness to serve was duly elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.
Resolved – that Graeme Smith, being the only Member expressing an interest in serving as Deputy Chairman, be elected for the ensuing year.
6. MINUTES Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.
Matters arising: The Town Clerk informed the Committee that a report concerning the election of an interim Verderer covering the current vacancy would be submitted to the July meeting. Members were informed that legal advice had been sought regarding the process and it was noted that it was in the gift of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee to appoint the interim Verderer. A report would be submitted to the Court of Common Council for their information following a successful appointment.
7. DRAFT EPPING FOREST JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES Resolved – that the draft minutes be received.
8. DRAFT EPPING FOREST CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES Resolved – that the draft minutes be received.
9. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS The Committee were invited to consider the report of the Town Clerk relating to the appointment of sub committees.
Resolved – that the following appointments be agreed:
Page 28 Ashtead Commons Consultation Group Philip Woodhouse Graeme Smith Sylvia Moys Jeremy Simons
Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common Consultation Group Philip Woodhouse Graeme Smith Sylvia Moys
West Wickham, Spring Park and Coulsdon Commons Consultation Group Philip Woodhouse Graeme Smith Sylvia Moys Jeremy Simons
Epping Forest Consultative Committee Philip Woodhouse Graeme Smith Sylvia Moys Benjamin Murphy Verderer Thomas Verderer Chapman Verderer Murphy
Epping Forest Joint Consultative Committee Philip Woodhouse Graeme Smith Sylvia Moys Gregory Lawrence Verderer Thomas
Epping Forest Management Plan Steering Group Philip Woodhouse Graeme Smith Sylvia Moys Benjamin Murphy Verderer Thomas Verderer Chapman Verderer Murphy
Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee Representative Verderer Jo Thomas
10. FINAL DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS PLAN 2018/19 Members noted the final high-level business plan for the Open Spaces Department for 2018/19. The plan identifies three top line objectives with four outcomes sitting under each objective. These objectives and outcomes are pertinent to the whole range of services provided by the Department. The Plan
Page 29 also shows how the Open Spaces Business Plan helps to deliver the outcomes of the Corporate Plan 2018 – 2023 by referencing the Corporate Plan numbered outcomes alongside the Departments outcomes, programmes and projects.
Resolved – that the plan be received.
11. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE
Members noted the Epping Forest Division’s activities across February 2018 to March 2018.
Of particular note was the provision of Royal Assent for the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Act 2018; end-of-year budgeting to within 1.6% of budget target; a marked fall in reported rough sleeping in Epping Forest; savings of almost 6,000 on the first 3 months of the revised waste management contract; completion of 222.5 acres of wood pasture restoration; the birth of 28 calves through winter calving and the successful reorganisation of the Sport turf teams.
In response to a query Members were informed that two new enforcement officers had been appointed. Their workload would cover the duties carried out by forest keepers. Members were delighted to see that more hard copies of Forest Focus had been requested. Information about work in the forest was being well publicised to a wide circle.
Members asked if there was any merit in joining with local authorities to tackle the problem of fly tipping and asking for witnesses to the crime. Members agreed that officers in local authorities should be approached to seek collaboration opportunities. Officers were investigating the possibility of roaming cameras to tackle the issue. A Member queried the correlation between fly tipping and rough sleeping. Officers said that they would circulate the in-depth data to the Member outside of the meeting.
Resolved – that the update be received.
12. COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP SCHEME APPLICATION UPDATE FOR EPPING FOREST Over the ten-year span (2008 – 2018) of the current Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS) the grant monies will have brought in a total of over £1.73 million in revenue, providing vital support for approved conservation work in Epping Forest’s internationally and nationally-important habitats The agreement with Natural England under ESS terminates in October 2018. The successor scheme is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), aimed at providing similar support for biodiversity conservation. Epping Forest remains a priority site for Natural England.
Following the previous report to Committee in January, a further review of the application process has been undertaken with Natural England (NE). As a result, it has become clear that with withdrawal of fieldwork assistance by NE,
Page 30 changes to mapping, new issues on commoning rights and the request for prior quotations through a procurement process the timetable for application needs to be extended. As the applications for CSS can only be made annually, the application is now proposed for August 2019 rather than 2018.
The Management Plan Steering Group would be consulted on the options in the same way as previously proposed but now over a longer timescale. Approval would be sought from your Committee in July 2019. Any application would be submitted by September 2019 to Natural England for its approval. Any CSS grant payments would start in January 2020. The period without Stewardship grant-funding, therefore, would be increased from 2 months, under the original approved timetable, to 14 months. This creates a deficit in income spread across two FYs, and will require a temporary cessation of any contractor work in FY2019-20 and leave a potential funding gap in that year of £70,000. The aim is to cover this gap with new income from CSS
Resolved – that Members: note the revised, longer timetable for the options appraisal by the Management Plan Steering Group and later application preparation; approve the preparation of a CSS application, consistent with their previous approval, to be presented to the Committee by July 2019.
13. EPPING FOREST EVENTS POLICY Epping Forest, in common with many of the City Corporation’s Open Spaces, has a strong history of hosting public events on Forest Land including fairs, circuses, firework displays, concerts, sporting tournaments and charity events. To reflect the increasing volume and complexity of event requests being considered by each Open Space, as well as to address the new opportunities and obligations under the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Act 2018, which received Royal Assent on 15 March, the Director of Open Spaces is proposing both a Departmental Policy and site specific local policy arrangements which will ensure that events are properly managed; the impact of any event on the Open Space, areas under statutory protection and adjoining communities is minimised and that the costs of hosting the event are properly reflected in any licence fee.
In response to a query Members were assured that the new policy was user friendly and widely appreciated by officers. The Open Spaces Departmental Events Policy was approved by the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee on 16 April 2018. The Committee agreed that it would be very useful for those planning events to receive a clearer map of the area. Members agreed that health and safety was a vital part of planning any event, and insurance information was an essential aspect of the policy.
The Committee queried the definition of an event as the policy. Members were informed that the requests coming in to the department were wide and varied so the policy needed to cover all potential requests and events as flexibly as possible.
Page 31 Members asked whether any complaints had been received under the new scheme.
Resolved – that Members noted the approved Open Spaces Departmental Events Policy.
14. EPPING FOREST MITIGATION STRATEGY Members noted that their approval was sought to develop an Epping Forest Recreational Pressure and Air Pollution Mitigation Strategy which would outline costed interventions that could manage the negative impact of increased air pollution and recreational pressure on the Epping Forest SAC. The implementation of the strategy and monitoring of its effectiveness would be funded by developer contributions which would be calculated according to the number of bedrooms within each new property built within a certain radius of the SAC.
Members noted that ahead of the Committee’s consideration of a costed formal strategy, there is a need to implement interim measures to ensure new developments that will shortly receive consent make appropriate financial contributions based on an interim tariff.
In response to a query it was noted that Mitigation Strategies are normally developed by the relevant Local Planning Authority. In this instance, because of the City of London Corporation’s stewardship of the entire SAC and its involvement in the Memorandum of Understanding for the protection of Epping Forest, the City Corporation is being asked to utilise its conservation land management expertise to develop the Strategy.
Resolved – that Members: Approve the development an Epping Forest Recreational Pressure and Air Pollution Mitigation Strategy for the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Delegate Authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to agree an interim strategy and tariff.
15. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE Members noted a general update on issues across the nine sites within ‘The Commons’ division that may be of interest to members and is supplementary to the monthly email updates.
Resolved – that the update be received.
16. PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDERS ANNUALISED FIGURES UPDATE FOR BURNHAM BEECHES At this committee on the 11th September 2017 Members requested that annualised Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) figures are presented to the Committee. The information in this report summarises activity in relation to PSPOs, and the preceding Dog Control Orders (DCOs), at Burnham Beeches for the period 01/04/17 to 31/03/2018.
Page 32 17. QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE There were no questions.
18. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT There was no urgent business.
19. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC RESOLVED: That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.
20. NON-PUBLIC MINUTES Resolved – that the minutes be agreed as an accurate record.
21. BURNHAM BEECHES CAFES REPORT The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces.
22. GATEWAY 7 REPORT - HIGHAMS PARK LAKE The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces.
23. WOODFORD GOLF CLUB - 2018 LICENCE FEE REVIEW The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces.
24. NON-PUBLIC QUESTIONS ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE There were no questions.
25. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT AND WHICH THE COMMITTEE AGREE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILST THE PUBLIC ARE EXCLUDED There was no urgent business.
The meeting ended at 1:00pm.
Chairman
Contact Officer: Natasha Dogra [email protected]
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Page 34 Agenda Item 5
Committee(s) Dated: Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018 Subject: Public Epping Forest - Superintendent’s Update for December 2017 to March 2018 (SEF 25/18) Report of: For Information Superintendent of Epping Forest Report author: Paul Thomson – Superintendent of Epping Forest
Summary
This purpose of this report is to summarise the Epping Forest Division’s activities across December 2017 to March 2018. Of particular note was the significant progress with the passage of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Act 2018 which gained Royal Assent on the 15 March 2018; a major response to the Epping Forest District Council on the soundness of the proposed Local Plan, a report on the main modifications to the London Borough of Redbridge’s Local Plan recognising comments by the City Corporation; the successful reorganisation of the Chingford Golf Course and Wanstead Flats Sport turf teams; initial savings of almost £6,000 on the first 3 months of the revised waste management contract; the completion of 222.5 acres of wood pasture restoration and the birth of 28 calves through winter calving. Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to:
Note the report. Main Report
Staff and Volunteers
1. Fixed term contract arrangements for the Policy Officer contract working on the Epping Forest Management Plan and an Assistant Forest Keeper have now been completed. Following a promotion to the Markets Directorate the Visitor Operations Manager has left Epping Forest.
2. Recruitment for the permanent staff at Wanstead Flats and Chingford Golf Course is complete. Three members of staff were assimilated to a new role, two members of staff with short term contracts have been appointed on a permanent basis and one new Green/Grounds Keeper has been appointed.
3. Two new Apprentices a Business Administration Apprentice and an Arborist Apprentice have started through the City Apprenticeship Scheme. Two Criminal Investigations & Waste Management Officers commenced employment replacing previous Forest Keeper roles.
Page 35 Budgets
4. With accounts still awaiting the final stages of the closing process, indications are that Epping Forest is likely to record a small overspend of £46,000 (1.69%). The overspend is related to procurement contracts where late delivery of equipment has prevented the corresponding drawdown of grant income before year end and a significant overcharge on a new contract for water supply which will be corrected in the new 2018/19 financial year.
Weather
5. The winter weather has seen sustained rainfall with two very wet months and two months just under average rainfall. December 2017 was much wetter than average, with total monthly rainfall 100.8% above the average total rainfall for December since 1979. January 2018 had just under average rainfall (4.9% below the average total rainfall for January since 1979). February 2018 saw slightly below average rainfall, with total monthly rainfall 18.4% below the average rainfall for February since 1979. March 2018 was much wetter than average, with total monthly rainfall 110% above the average rainfall for March since 1979.
6. The cold and wet conditions extended the Closed Riding season which moved to Open Riding from 5 May.
Open Spaces Act 2018 7. The House of Lords Unopposed Bill Committee met on 31 January and after a session of questions, the Chairman, Lord McFall of Alcluith stated he was satisfied with responses and would commend the Bill unchanged to the House. The Bill’s third reading was on 27 February, with the Bill receiving Royal Assent on 15 March 2018. Work is now underway to explore and prioritise new powers of enforcement, licencing letting of vacant premises.
Forest Services
Fly tipping 8. Fly-tipping for the period of December 2017 – March 2018 totalled 110 incidents, which is a 42.4% reduction in comparison to the 191 fly-tips removed during the same period 12 months ago.
9. Furniture (25%) and Building waste (23%) remain the most numerous materials deposited illegally in the Forest.
10.Forest Roadsides remain the most vulnerable locations for fly-tipping and comprise up 38% of all fly-tips over the period. There was a marked increase in Forest Interior fly-tips, though 25% can be attributed to waste collected from the planned clearance of Rough Sleeper Camps.
11.There has been a marked reduction in fly-tips on Wanstead Flats, which may be attributed to the closure of Centre Road Car Park for repairs, which were delayed due to snow periods. Since the completion of the car park and the new security
Page 36 arrangements including alligator teeth, there has been a noticeable reduction on litter quantities in general at this site.
Rough Sleepers 12. The City Corporation is continuing to work closely with the Police, homeless organisations and the local authorities to resolve rough sleeping on the Forest. There has been a slight increase of 2% for December-January in rough sleeper camps with one rough sleeper found in the Becontree Avenue area, two on Leyton Flats, one in the Wanstead Flats and Bury Wood area.
13.There was just 1 reported case of rough sleeping for the report period, representing a reduction of 80% and 86% from 5 and 7 cases for the two preceding report periods. The litter team removed a large amount of rubbish from Whipps Cross which was being collected and stored on the Forest by a rough sleeper with a hoarding disorder.
Enforcement Activity 14.The following prosecutions were heard during the period under report.
Date of Name of Byelaw/ Amount Court Court Name Outcome Defendant Awarded Hearing EPA
Trial EPA 33 1(a) Adjourned 6 Dec 2017 Shanthakumar Chelmsford to May EPA 33 (5) Crown Court 2018 N/A Sathiyaseelan
Mention Hearing Shanthakumar EPA 33 1(a) Chelmsford Prep for 12 Jan 2018 Sathiyaseelan EPA 33 (5) Crown Court May 2018 N/A
PTPH EPA 34 1(a) GUILTY Fine £900 11 Jan 2018 McGuire Chelmsford PLEA Costs £1100 Crown Court Comp £500
PTPH Chelmsford EPA 33 1(a) 11 Jan 2018 Smith Crown Court Acquitted N/A
Page 37 Licences 15.A total of 62 licences for events were issued during the four months being reported, which yielded an income of £18,920.03 plus VAT. 66 licences were issued during the same period in 2016/17 income of £15,952.29.
Unauthorised Occupations 16.There have been no Unauthorised Occupations recorded during this period. However, the City Corporation has continued to monitor traveller movements following evictions within the area by partner authorities.
Dog Incidents 17. There have been no serious dog incidents reported.
Waste Management and Recycling 18.The new waste management trial period is in the third month of operation and savings of £5,891.77 appear encouraging. There has been a significant increase in amounts sent to recycling rather than landfill, and a reduction in mileage from our own litter vehicles.
Recycling Savings Costs 2017 Costs 2018 Saving January £ 508.44 £ 311.14 £ 197.30 February £ 508.44 £ 360.00 £ 148.44 Mar £ 508.44 £ 360.00 £ 148.44 £ 1,525.32 £ 1,031.14 £ 494.18
Transit Savings Costs 2017 Costs 2018 Saving January £ 2,834.91 £ 1,711.06 £ 1,123.85 February £ 2,747.00 £ 1,808.61 £ 938.39 Mar £ 2,966.76 £ 1,417.50 £ 1,549.26 £ 8,548.67 £ 4,937.17 £ 3,611.50
Bywaters Waste Savings Costs 2017 Costs 2018 Saving January £ 1,693.10 £ 395.92 £ 1,297.18 February £ 482.91 £ 384.00 £ 98.91 Mar £ 1,689.42 £ 1,299.42 £ 390.00 £ 3,865.43 £ 2,079.34 £ 1,786.09 Total Savings For Jan, Feb & March Only £ 5,891.77
Heritage; Landscape and Nature Conservation
Agri-environment schemes 19. Epping Forest officers and their colleagues from other Open Spaces Divisions met Natural England at the Epping Forest offices at the end of January for
Page 38 discussions about the new Stewardship Scheme and implications for the income for habitat management work. 20.Two contractors have completed 50.6 acres (20.5 hectares) of wood-pasture restoration between September 2017 and March 2018. This is significant progress in the habitat restoration work supported by the Environmental Stewardship grant. A tender for further works to be delivered by contractors was advertised at the end of March 2018. This, together with the work done by in- house teams and volunteers, should ensure that the targets for restoration will have been met when this grant comes to an end in winter 2018.
Grazing 21. The cattle have spent December to March in the winter housing at Great Gregories. Calving for the Longhorn herd continued during this period while the calving of the City Commons Sussex herd began in January. The 28th and last Longhorn calf was born on 25 February. Overall the gender split for this year’s calving was 17 bull calves and 11 heifers. This brings the total herd size to 138. The Sussex cattle had 13 calves in total and were transported back to City Commons on the 22nd March.
22. Three significant investments in equipment for the grazing project have been made. A new Nissan Navara truck has been leased. The truck’s ULEX compliant Euro 6 engine provides a 3.5T towing capacity for daily checking and moving of cattle around grazing sites, increasing flexibility as a tractor is no longer always required for this work. A tractor-mounted straw chopper / blower has also been purchased for spreading bedding for the cattle. Importantly, it also chops hay which increases cattle feed intakes and palatability of forage and considerably reduces the labour and spending on straw bedding. Lastly, a staff welfare cabin has been installed at Great Gregories. The cabin will significantly improve the welfare of staff based at the farm. Included in the cabin is a toilet, kitchenette, office and drying room. The installation of services to the cabin will take place later in the summer, after upgrades are carried out to the power supply feeding the Police Barn.
23.Despite some very tough, wet and cold weather conditions in the middle of March staff successfully installed 4.8km of new invisible fencing cable. These new and revised loops at Chingford Plain / Bury Wood, Sunshine North / South and Big View will add an extra 222.5 acres (90 ha) to the grazeable area on the Forest, making a total of 714.1 (289 ha).
24.The grazing team volunteered a few days to the volunteer hedge layers who completed a further 335m of hedges at Great Gregories leading up to the top fields.
25.New fences were installed at Hornbeam Lane and Fairmead car park. The Hornbeam Lane post and rail fence replaces the regularly vandalised temporary electric fence that prevented cattle from straying onto the West Essex Golf Course. Cleft chestnut fencing has been installed around Fairmead car park with 3 pedestrian access gates, this fence enables the livestock team to safely round up the cattle in an enclosed space before going into the pound for loading or the adjustment of collars. The fenced area also acts as a business continuity fall back
Page 39 arrangement should there be a failure of the containment system or a disease outbreak. In the rare event that these events occur, the cattle could be temporarily contained, fed and watered on the fenced car park area.
Heritage 26.Good progress has been made with the Copped Hall Parkland Management Plan preparations and discussion were held with the consultants during January ahead of the production of a draft for further consultation with officers.
27.Consultants, Rural Advice, have produced the first draft of the Copped Hall Parkland Plan. This has been reviewed by Epping Forest officers, staff at City Surveyors and the Built Environment, as well as Natural England and Historic England. Feedback is being used to prepare the final draft prior to consideration by the Consultative Committee and the Epping Forest and Commons Committee.
28.The most significant part of the report was the confirmation of the size and importance of the Tudor Square Pond at Rookery Wood and its part in the historic landscape, emphasising the national significance of this element of the Grade II* Registered Park & Garden.
Biodiversity 29.Ramorum Disease update: The Sweet Chestnut tree at The Warren Plantation reported previously with suspected Ramorum proved positive for the disease. This tree is now dead and itself no longer poses a threat as the Ramorum spores are only generated from living plant tissues. However, this now means that the disease may appear in the many other Sweet Chestnut trees. This will require a heightened level of monitoring and swift action to fell infected trees. No infection has been found amongst the Larch trees (the other major tree vector species). However, the long-planned felling of these conifers will take place as part of next year’s work programme. 30.The cold weather and snow during March ensured that winter migrant birds stayed on in the Forest in larger numbers than usual and spring arrivals were very limited. The nationwide influx of wintering continental Hawfinches finally became apparent in Epping Forest in January. Flocks of up to 16 of these birds, our largest finch species, were seen throughout January to March in Bury Wood, especially between Ludgate and Pear-tree Plains. The Hawfinch used to breed in Epping Forest and this was one of the first places it was discovered as a British breeding species, by the Epping naturalist Henry Doubleday. 31.Large flocks of Redwing were seen throughout the scrub areas of Chingford Plain and Wanstead Flats in late March with gatherings of over 100 birds. Fieldfare also featured more than usual for this large thrush species that is often only seen in numbers on the less wooded agricultural areas of the Buffer Lands. However, perhaps the most notable winter movement came during the “beast from the East” easterly winds when hundreds of Lapwings made hard-weather movements west and southwards across the Forest with well over 250 birds recorded flying over both Chingford Plain and Wanstead Flats.
32.Away from the Forest, the Head of Conservation worked for a day with the Cardiff University PhD student in preparing samples of wood decay fungi from beech trees slices. The final fieldwork and laboratory work was completed at
Page 40 Cardiff in March, and along with detailed DNA analysis carried out by the student in the USA over winter, the results of the work are now being written up for the submission of the PhD in the next year. The PhD student has already contributed to a book chapter on the fungi communities in hollowing trees and further peer- reviewed scientific papers are planned.
33.The City of London, through a City Bridge Trust award, is now contributing to the funding of a follow-up PhD studentship at Cardiff, which will work on veteranisation techniques and hollowing of beech and oak at both Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches. The Head of Conservation met the new student and assisted with some of his early lab work on beech material from the Forest.
34.Ancient trees featured during a well-attended conference organised by Place Services Essex at Gilwell Park on 19 February, celebrating the Forests of Essex and, in particular, the late Professor Oliver Rackham’s unsurpassed contribution to the understanding of the ecological and cultural significance of these ancient landscapes. The keynote speakers were Professors Tom Williamson and Charles Watkins. The Head of Conservation also gave a presentation highlighting Oliver Rackham’s great insights into Epping Forest’s history and management.
35.The Wren Group held its AGM on 21 March, and was able to celebrate another successful year, particularly with biodiversity recording and also its achievements in managing the grass and scrub habitats of the Exchange Land, Wanstead Park for butterflies. The Head of Conservation gave the main talk on Forest habitat conservation, ahead of the AGM and took part in a detailed question and answer session for members
36.Finally, water levels and the dampness of soils are very important determinants of biodiversity in woodlands and wood-pasture habitats, influencing flower species, invertebrate populations and bat and bird numbers reliant on the latter. Retaining water on the Forest for longer and ensuring areas of marsh, wet grassland and damp woodland is, therefore, of special importance especially with the vagaries of a changing climate with more extremes of conditions.
37.The Environment Agency (EA) is also interested in identifying areas where water can be retained, to reduce the flood risk for areas of housing within river and stream catchments around the country. There is much interest in sites where the two objectives can be achieved together. Epping Forest is one such site and on 29th March the Senior Keeper and Head of Conservation met EA counterparts to discuss the opportunities for achieving flood prevention and biodiversity enhancements around the River Ching and its catchment of tributaries. The EA officers were very interested in the possibilities and the ideas proposed and will be considering working these ideas up and gathering evidence during the next year.
Land Management
Town & Country Planning 38.Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) Local Plan: The main planning “event” was the 6-week consultation by Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) on its new
Page 41 Local Plan – a so-called Regulation 19 consultation which comes prior to the Plan’s submission to the Planning Inspectorate. The consultation period came to an end on 29 January and a substantive response was made on behalf of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee under delegated authority.
39. Following the comprehensive response by the Conservators to the Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) Local Plan, a meeting was convened by EFDC on 21 February to discuss both the Conservators’ and Natural England’s concerns and disagreements with the Local Plan proposals for housing and infrastructure. EFDC officers were seeking to find a way to agree a Statement of Common Ground with each organisation if possible.
40. In addition, the meeting also examined the continuing requirement for a ‘Mitigation Strategy’ to be developed and also considered the limited progress towards understanding both visitor and recreation impacts as well as those of traffic pollution. Further meetings were agreed to develop aspects of the Mitigation Strategy.
41. One of the early outcomes of the evidence-gathering for the mitigation has been the Visitor Survey 2017 Report. The six funders involved in this report agreed the final version at the end of March and the report will be made public in April. The key result of the Visitor Survey has been the clear demonstration of a 6km “Zone of Influence” with 75% of visitors to the SAC parts of the Forest coming from up to 6km away. This is important evidence in helping to decide which developments are likely to have the most impacts on the Forest and it fully justifies the concerns expressed by The Conservators to EFDC during the Local Plan Regulation 19 consultation.
42. London Borough of Redbridge (LBR) Local Plan: At the same time as our response to the EFDC Local Plan was being made, the Inspector’s Report on the Main Modifications (MMs) required for the London Borough of Redbridge Local Plan was published. Despite our representations the Inspector has accepted the “2km buffer zone” for development control around the Forest, which we argued was arbitrary and too limited for some development impacts, including traffic generation. Although it is considered a buffer, nonetheless a total of 500 new houses are proposed within the zone and the Inspector accepted this number.
43. However, the Local Plan Policy LP39, protecting Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) was enhanced by the Inspector and The Conservators’ role is highlighted in the MMs. The Inspector required specific mitigation solutions to be provided rather than vague references to mitigation. In MMs 68 & 69 the Inspector has required that the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) and Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) mitigation measures involve direct consultation with The Conservators. In addition, levels of tariff per house that are required from developers to fund mitigation must be explained in a Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
44. Epping Forest officers will be seeking to engage LBR in early discussions about mitigation and examine how we might influence the Planning Obligations SPD. It is hoped that a meeting with LBR and involving Natural England, the statutory body responsible for SAC protection, can be arranged early in 2018. We will also
Page 42 be requesting that LBR becomes a signatory to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the protection of the SAC. The MoU is being used as a basis for establishing a mitigation strategy across 4 other local authorities, including EFDC.
45.London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF) Local Plan: Epping Forest officers continue to seek an early meeting with LBWF about its Local Plan review and its role as a competent authority in protecting the Forest. We are awaiting a response and an invitation to a meeting.
46.In addition to the Local Plans responses, officers also commented on 15 planning applications during the period in question. Key points included:
46.1 Land at Greenview, Holyfield Road – demolition of existing commercial buildings and the erection of nine detached dwellings. Access to the site is across Forest land; current commercial site is claiming a prescriptive right of way.
46.2 Forest Rise, Debden Lane – total refurbishment with outbuilding for swimming pool and guests (second dwelling). Access is across Forest Lane; with the existing property benefits from a prescriptive right of way.
47.Upshire Millennium Field – An Easy Access Path, which has been grant funded by Tescos, has now been installed at the Millennium Field. The trustees are very pleased with the result and feel that this will prove a worthy asset for the public using the recreation area.
48. Woodberry Way - . At 13-15 Woodberry Way, E4 in a property adjacent to The Hawk Wood, Pole Hill, where an application has been made to develop the gardens at the rear of these properties into nine additional houses. This is a typical windfall site which if considered in isolation could be overlooked as having a significant impact on the Forest. However, the response by your officers was to make the point to LBWF that as the competent authority under the Habitat Regulations 2017 it has a duty to consider the “in combination” effects of this development on the Special Area of Conservation (SAC), alongside others housing proposals across the Borough.
Operations
Habitat Works 49.Wood-pasture Restoration and Management – Contract and in-house arborist teams continue working on wood-pasture restoration, which is the main activity for the in-house teams at present. The final measurement of the areas worked this winter has still to be done, however, activity on the ground has been especially prominent this year with increasing positive and negative public comment on the work. The forest mulcher was hired for a further three-week period undertaking work in Lords Bushes, Walthamstow Forest, Three Planks Ride, Almshouse Plain and Barn Hoppitt.
50.Wanstead Park: The refilling of the lakes at Wanstead Park continues with daily pumping from the borehole for 16 out of 24 hours. Ornamental Waters continues
Page 43 its path of recovery with water from the borehole still being diverted to it appears to have reached an equilibrium with the water level approximately 75cm below ‘full. The level in the Heronry Pond has been relatively low and the source of increasing comment. Our communications have emphasised that our priority is to restore water levels as best as we can this winter in the Ornamental Waters. Subsequently there will need to be some juggling of the water movement to restore levels in the Heronry Pond while not undermining the gains made in the Ornamental Waters.
51.Warren Plantation: Prices to undertake Rhododendron control and felling and removal of the larch trees as part of the agreed Phytophthora control works have been obtained. Herbicide treatment of the Rhododendron will be undertaken in May by contractors.
Risk Management Works 52.Tree Safety - The 2018 tree safety assessment by independent arboricultural contractors has been completed across the Forest. The three arborist teams have largely been focused on completing the 2017 program and undertaking high priority risk management tasks identified in the 2018 survey
53.Tree Root Nuisance: A review is being undertaken into all Tree Root Nuisance claims made against the Forest. The first phase of this review is complete with both the paper and electronic files reconciled. We are currently checking the status of works and other commitments identified in the files on the ground. Once complete we will be working with the insurance team to identify possible strategies for reducing the City’s significant financial liabilities in this area.
54.Sink hole: A sink hole of around three feet deep by five feet across appeared on St Peters Green on Friday 26 January exposing some infrastructure cables. Following initial investigations, we sought to get UK Power Network to make good the sink hole since, it was their cable being exposed. They have offered a contribution towards the costs of repair however the refilling of the sinkhole is now being undertaken by contractor engaged by the City of London.
55.Hard surfaces Management: The contract to control weed and moss growth on hard surfaces around Forest buildings, including the visitor centres has been continued for a second year. The contract will be slightly extended to include the twice-yearly treatment of the gullies around car parks.
Access Works 56.Ride Management: 3.5 km of the surfaced rides have had a significant cut back of the edge vegetation. This work will help to let light and wind penetrate the ride surfaces and will allow quicker drying out of the surface. In undertaking the work, the teams have cleared back to any drains that are present so as to facilitate and potential future drainage works. The current works give a flavour of the likely proposed scale of activity for the wider surfaced path network.
57.Car Park Improvements: With funding from the City Surveyors team we have been able to make some helpful improvements to several car parks:
Page 44 57.1 Honey Lane car park has had new gating installed along with some resurfacing,
57.2 Lincolns Lane has had its entranceway extended to allow cars to be fully on a hard surface when turning in or out of the car park and the whole car park has been top-dressed. We kept this car park closed for a time to allow these works to settle in as ideally they would be undertaken in dryer conditions and any benefits to the resurfacing would be quickly lost if we opened the car park too early.
57.3 High Beach Church: We have improved the edging and undertaking limited surfacing to this small but well used pull-in by the church
57.4 Centre Road: Works were completed at Centre Road car park to improve the surfacing and gateway security. To let the surfacing works settle in the car park was shut for a time before opening.
58.The small green on the corner of Nursery Road and Smarts Lane in Loughton has had the new style oak bollards installed along its edge to deter commuter parking. Unhelpfully, part way along, and despite the service check showing no cables, electric cables appeared exactly on the line of the bollards. The current gap section where bollards could not continue to be installed we are proposing to close off by installing large logs.
59.Staff and volunteers have completed a survey of the promoted paths in the Forest. The survey work has now to be compiled into a Work Programme..
Visitor Services
Communication and Information 60. As of 19 April 2018, our social media following is:
- Twitter followers: 6,371 (54% year on increase) - Facebook likes: 1,302 (82% increase) - Instagram followers: 886 (169% increase)
- The chart shows a comparison of our figures at the same point in 2017
Page 45 61.Forest Focus winter and spring editions were very well received. The ezine edition is greatly increasing in popularity. People also enjoy reading a printed copy of this quality publication and can browse or take a copy from each of the Visitor Centres, as well as lots of local cafes, pubs, health centres, stations, etc. throughout the Epping Forest area, with favourable comments received verbally. The electronic mailing list for Forest Focus continues to grow very well.
62.The new publication ‘Short walks in Epping Forest’ is now on sale and has been extremely well received in the local area. The promotion with local estate agents to promote the book and Forest Focus electronic subscription will now commence, providing us with some useful audience development feedback.
63.The new, revised Official Epping Forest map is now on sale and selling well with a special offer price if bought together with the book of short walks.
64.Head of Conservation, Dr Jeremy Dagley, was interviewed and introduced by David Attenborough for Epping Forest’s feature in the Queen’s Green Planet documentary which aired on ITV on Monday 16 April 2016.
65.Bluebells in Wanstead Park were featured in local and national press (Time Out and The Times).
66.Facebook activity around promotion of bluebell season, with accompanying responsible visiting information (around not stepping on or picking the bluebells) has proved exceptionally popular, demonstrating the public interest in visiting woodland bluebells in April / May.
67.Instagram growth has been particularly notable recently with interactions and follows from some high profile, international organisations, photographers and creative individuals. This demonstrates Instagram as a powerful tool for networking internationally and for promoting Epping Forest to creative individuals
Page 46 who may then gain an awareness for potential use of the Forest as a filming / photography location.
68.Bluebells and other spring flowers was the theme for the Epping Forest article included in the local Essex Life publication for April 2018. The March 2018 article featured spring / Easter events and promoted the new Short Walks book. The February 2018 article looked at some more unusual references to Epping Forest.
Epping Forest Sports Team 69.Work has been ongoing since Autumn to restructure the Epping Forest Sports Team to create a combined staff structure across Wanstead Flats and Chingford Golf Course leading to greater operational efficiency.
70.In February, the rota for the restructured golf shop commenced. Two part-time bookings assistants were employed to work alongside the Sports Business and Sales Officer, on a three-week rota. This ensures reliable cover in response to business need and to be less reliant on casual staff.
71. The rota for the restructured grounds team commenced on 1 March 2018 with existing casual staff securing a permanent contract and new staff joining from elsewhere in Open Spaces.
72. The casual staff team has been expanded to give depth of cover for annual leave, training and sickness within the team. Additional casual staff are as follows; 1 x Casual Sports Bookings Assistant, 1 x Casual Greens/Grounds Keeper and 5 x Casual Caretakers.
73. The Sports Operations and Business Manager remains vacant as recruitment has been unsuccessful. This role is being reviewed but continues to be covered by the Project Officer in the meantime
Chingford Golf Course 74.Numbers of visitors to the golf course have been lower, partly down to the snow we had in December which closed the golf course for a week along with the wet weather throughout December & January. To protect the course the use of hire buggies was restricted over this period.
75.We currently have 724 public registered players on the booking system which is increasing on a weekly basis now we are continuing to register users when visiting.
76.The greens were cut once or twice a week depending on the weather throughout December and January. Solid spiking was carried out in front of the tees on wet patches to allow foot traffic to move easier and create less wear. The course suffered multiple types of damage to the greens; hole 7 has suffered from severe motorbike damage twice, holes 4, 5 & 6 also had motorbike damage but was not as severe. Dog damage to the greens has increased but this could be down to the fact the surface is softer due to weather conditions.
77.The course was closed in February and March for a total of eight days due to snow. Although open during the rain there was of course less visitors compared
Page 47 to normal. During the long period of rain, all 18 greens were kept open for play with the use of temporary mats on the par 3’s to protect the teeing area for the start of the season. All ditches were cleared, and extra drainage was added in the areas that needed it most such as holes 9 and10. This helps to keep the course open and at its best all year round. New posts were put in around the back of the 18th green and 1st tee to replace the old white ones that had been rotting.
78.Daily bag tags have been introduced for all users. These bag tags are in 7 different colours and are changed on a weekly basis for each day. This provides a quick visual aid on the course to ensure that players have been in and paid. Feedback from users has been positive.
79.The greenkeeper’s yard has again been broken into and the tractor was stolen. This has been reported to the police and new fencing has been put up around the lockup with extra locks and measures to prevent the other tractor from being removed
Wanstead Flats Football 80.Due to the winter snow the season has been extended until the week ending 6 May. Off season works are being programmed to ensure readiness for the new 2018/19 season.
81.There are no outstanding debts this season.
Visitor Numbers The Total VC The Temple QEHL Visitor Number Month View No 2017 January 2383 1263 759 1453 5858 February 3289 1266 559 1952 7066 March 2749 1444 532 1603 6328 April 5016 2729 2412 3087 13244 May 3607 2074 1052 2248 8981 June 4018 1790 513 2861 9182 July 3942 2103 465 2599 9109 August 4197 2564 794 3123 10678 September 4215 1858 722 1902 8697 October 4519 2569 744 2594 10426 November 2956 1757 649 1775 7137 December 3530 933 643 2809 7915 Calendar Year 44421 22350 9844 28006 104621
Page 48 Visitor Centres Income
Income Month The View VC The Temple Total 2017 January £4,060.00 £571.00 £240.00 £4,871.00 February £4,674.00 £435.00 £189.00 £5,298.00 March £5,404.00 £768.00 £174.00 £6,346.00 April £15,682.60 £1,258.56 £585.47 £17,526.63 May* £5,946.60 £847.60 £295.10 £7,089.30 June £5,211.55 £763.14 £146.47 £6,121.16 July £7,951.95 £1,271.17 £246.83 £9,469.95 August £7,142.18 £1,358.28 £899.46 £9,399.92 September £7,109.09 £1,008.35 £188.18 £8,305.62 October £7,236.31 £1,261.64 £217.84 £8,715.79 November £5,259.90 £809.92 £211.64 £6,281.46 December £8,051.97 £481.02 £245.66 £8,778.65 Calendar Year £83,730.15 £10,833.68 £3,639.65 £98,203.48
Visitor Services Spend per Head The VC The Temple Spend per Head Month View Total 2017 January £1.70 £0.45 £0.32 £2.47 February £1.42 £0.34 £0.34 £2.10 March £1.97 £0.53 £0.33 £2.83 April £3.13 £0.46 £0.24 £3.83 May £1.65 £0.41 £0.28 £2.34 June £1.30 £0.43 £0.29 £2.02 July £2.02 £0.60 £0.53 £3.15 August £1.70 £0.53 £1.13 £3.36 September £1.69 £0.54 £0.26 £2.49 October £0.28 £0.49 £0.29 £1.06 November £1.78 £0.46 £0.33 £2.57 December £2.28 £0.52 £0.38 £3.18
Visitor Figures Comparisons 2016/2017
% % Increase/Decrease Total 16 Total 17 Difference 16/17 in Month Difference Annual Visitor Figures January 5858 6145 287 5% February 7066 6416 -650 -9% March 8481 6313 -2168 -26% April 9248 13244 3996 43%
Page 49 May 9467 10340 873 9% June 5978 9182 3204 54% July 8807 9109 302 3% August 9761 10678 917 9% September 6960 8697 1737 25% October 9522 10426 904 9% November 6403 7137 734 11% December 7869 7915 46 1% Total 10182.00
82. Visitor counts have been affected by the closure of The Temple following a ceiling collapse in January and snow in late February as well as a three-week closure of the Hunting Lodge for essential upgrades.
Visitor QEHL 2017 View 2017 Temple 2017 High 2017 Total Total Numbers 2018 Beach 2017
February 1563↓ 1678 2942 ↑ 2820 0 closed↓ 650 1485↑ 1268 5990↓ 6416
March 377 (QEHL 1761 2439↓ 2768 0 closed↓ 473 1068↓ 1311 3884↓ 6313 closed for electrical upgrade)↓
Visitor Services Events and Activities
83.Epping Forest Christmas Grotto ran on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th December attracting over 2,000 people, with over 500 pre-booked tickets sold for the weekend, creating £7,458.61 in ticket sales alone. With an array of activities to take part in, the weekend was a huge success with positive feedback given through Survey Monkey. Profit made from the event was £2,568.02.
84.A taster session craft event at The View, ‘Printing inspired by Nature’, 24 January 2018, was a partnership event with London Borough of Waltham Forest Adult Education Service (LBWFAES). LBWFAES wanted to test appetite for this class in the location. All course costs were met by LBWFAES and 13 people of a maximum 16 attended. Attendees represented over a third of total visitors on a cold wet day and also made purchase in the shop. As a result, further paid for bookings for courses are in discussion.
85.Visitor Services responded to discussions initiated by London Borough of Waltham Forest officers concerning a bid on 1 December 2017 to be London Borough of Culture 2019 or in 2020. Workshops run by LBWF indicated that residents of LBWF felt that Epping Forest was a unique and significant contribution to what was special about their borough and local artists were keen to put on events and activities relating to the Forest. The View is illustrated in the bid document, p15. 22 boroughs have submitted entries: the winning borough will
Page 50 be awarded £1.1 million. The ‘Forest’ London Boroughs of Redbridge and Newham also bid for this award. The winner, and 6 ‘exemplary’ other bids are due to be announced in February.
86.Half Term Winter Trees, 13–16 February: Self-guided cluster of activities laid out across Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge for half-term. This included tree identification activities to encourage families to go out into the Forest; hands-on wooden building and drawing activities. The offer of a range of self-led activities for families has proven to be a popular and resource efficient away for Visitor Services to provide extra experiences for a targeted audience over several days. Kew Gardens staff admired and requested use of the Fractal Trees activity sheet for (COL acknowledged use) at their family events: we were pleased to share it with them.
87.Hunting the King’s deer: Epping Forest Poaching in the 16th and 17th centuries, Exhibition 24 February to 11 March and Illustrated Talk, Sunday 11 March. This exhibition and talk designed and delivered by University of Nottingham PhD student and researcher, Tom Rose, was the culmination of a project which offered Tom the opportunity to learn how to adapt his academic work for a more general audience and get hands-on engagement with our visitors. Visitor Services in exchange benefited from Tom’s expertise in fact checking interpretation and publications about the Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge’s Tudor hunting story.
88.Exhibition: You can’t see the trees for the woods, Saturday 3 March to Monday 2 April: Marion Sidebottom’s exhibition marked the completion of a year as Artist in Residence photographing the Forest’s ancient trees and gathering stories of how people value and enjoy them. Marion’s final choice of photographs comprised monotone collages with texts to illustrate a range of themes. Both online on social media and in visitor books, there has been a very positive response from the public to Marion’s images. Prints of her work have been available in the shop at The View.
Major incidents
89.None.
Paul Thomson Superintendent of Epping Forest T: 0208 532 1010 E: [email protected]
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Page 52 Agenda Item 6
Committee(s): Date(s): Epping Forest Consultative Committee (For Discussion) 13 June 2018
Epping Forest & Commons Committee 9 July 2018 Subject: Public Cyclical Works Programme Bid – 2019/20
Report of: For Information City Surveyor CS: 209/18
Summary
This report sets out a provisional list of cyclical projects being considered for properties under the management of Epping Forest and Commons Committee under the “cyclical works programme”. The draft cyclical project list for 2019/20 totals £999,100 and if approved will continue the on-going programme in the maintenance of the property and infrastructure assets.
Recommendation That Committee notes the content of this report
Main Report
Background 1. The total value of the approved projects for the 18/19 cyclical works programme (CWP) for the Epping Forest and Commons Committee was £1.46m which consisted of 164 projects.
2. The Director of Open Spaces has requested that your Committee be provided with a preview of the likely works list in 2019/20 for Epping Forest and Commons.
Current Position 3. The attached list at Appendix A is a provisional list of projects for Epping Forest, City Commons and Burnham Beeches under consideration for 2019/20.
4. The information for the bid has been taken from the forward maintenance plans for each property within the Estate; these plans are regularly updated in conjunction with the Superintendent and their management team to ensure they are as accurate as possible.
Page 53 5. It should be noted that this provisional list for 2019/20 is subject to a final review prior to presentation to the Corporate Asset Sub-Committee in September 2018 and consideration by the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee at the beginning of 2019.
Prioritisation of Projects
6. The project prioritisation model developed for the cyclical works programme has been applied to projects identified from forward cyclical maintenance/replacement plans of the Barbican Centre, GSMD and the Corporate Properties under the City Surveyors control.
7. Essential Projects for consideration of including within the bid list are ranked in order of priority according to the following criteria and scoring mechanism.
Health, Safety & Security (weighting 5) COL Reputational (weighting 4) Maintaining Income Stream (weighting 4) Assets Performance (weighting 5) Client Feedback (weighting 2)
8. The cyclical works programme Peer Review Panel, chaired by the Financial Services Director has met twice to consider the draft prioritisation of projects across all Departments. The panel has provided a “sense check” to ensure that the prioritisation ranking reflected in the Prioritisation model has been rigorously and consistently applied and that the outcomes in terms of prioritisation align to the City’s strategic aims and objectives.
Corporate & Strategic Implications 9. The CWP links to the City Surveyor’s Business Plan:
Strategic asset management: We will develop asset management strategies that align Corporate Property Strategy, Investment Property Strategy and risks. We will ensure that we unlock the potential of our property assets in a way that supports the efficient delivery of the Corporate Plan and Service Departments’ objectives.
Property assets and facilities management: We will ensure buildings are fit for purpose, sustainable, safe and secure, providing access for all, meeting service needs and community expectations and delivering value for money through enhancing our efficiencies; this includes asset management plans, facilities management including hard (planned and reactive maintenance) and soft services (cleaning, security, etc), cyclical projects and minor improvements and delivery of major capital projects for refurbishments and new builds.
Page 54 It is intended that Epping Forest, City Commons and Burnham Beeches benefit from the provisional 2019/20 cyclical works programme as follows:
Epping Forest £823,700 82% City Commons £144,400 14% Burnham Beeches £31,000 4% £999,100
Conclusion 10. The attached provisional list of work for 2019/20 with an indicative value of £999,100 allows the on-going cyclical repairs and maintenance of the City’s Operational estate at Epping Forest, City Commons and Burnham Beeches in particular to continue.
Appendices
Appendix A - Provisional Cyclical Works Programme 2019/20
A Hurley Head of FM - Assistant Director 0207 3321069 [email protected]
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Page 56 Appendix A - CWP 19/20 - Actual List
Epping Forest
Property Location Project Title Cost Epping Forest Queen Elizabeth INTERNAL LIMEWASH £20,000 Hunting Lodge Epping Forest Wanstead Park, LAKES - WHARFING £120,000 Historic Landscape REPLACEMENT Epping Forest Wanstead Park, LANDSCAPE WORKS £48,000 Historic Landscape Epping Forest Wanstead Park, DESIGN AND SETTING OUT FEES £6,000 Historic Landscape Epping Forest Wanstead Flats CULVERT/BRIDGE INSPECTION £5,000 General Epping Forest Highams Park Historic POND/WHARFING RELINING (INC £24,000 Landscape WHARFING) Epping Forest General RESERVOIR SUPERVISION £6,000 Epping Forest General CAR PARK ROAD OVERHAUL £60,000 LEVELLING & RESURFACING Epping Forest General FOOTPATH/PAVING £12,000 REPLACEMENT Epping Forest General GUTTER LINING REPLACEMENT £150,000 (14 LODGES) Epping Forest General MAINS WATER REPLACEMENT £36,000 Epping Forest Information Centre WINDOWS/DOORS REPLACEMENT £14,500
Epping Forest Jubilee Pond LANDSCAPING ADJUSTMENTS £100,000 Epping Forest Office, The Warren WINDOWS REPLACEMENT (SW) £42,000 Epping Forest 1 East Lodge, The ROOF REPLACEMENT £2,500 Warren Epping Forest 2 East Lodge, The ROOF REPLACEMENT £2,500 Warren Epping Forest 2 East Lodge, The RADIATORS REPLACEMENT £5,000 Warren Epping Forest Wardens Hse KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT £9,500 (Harting) Epping Forest 1 Jubilee Retreat, BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT £5,000 Bury Road (Flat) Epping Forest 1 Jubilee Retreat, BRICKWORK REPOINTING £1,200 Bury Road (Flat) Epping Forest 1 Jubilee Retreat, KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT £8,000 Bury Road (Flat) Epping Forest 1 Jubilee Retreat, WINDOWS REPLACEMENT £14,500 Bury Road (Flat) Epping Forest 1 Jubilee Retreat, RADIATORS REPLACEMENT £5,000 Bury Road (Flat) Page 57 Epping Forest 2 Jubilee Retreat, BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT £5,000 Bury Road Epping Forest 2 Jubilee Retreat, DOORS REPLACEMENT £4,000 Bury Road Epping Forest 2 Jubilee Retreat, KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT £8,000 Bury Road Epping Forest 2 Jubilee Retreat, BOILER REPLACEMENT (OIL) £10,000 Bury Road Epping Forest 2 Jubilee Retreat, RADIATORS REPLACEMENT £5,000 Bury Road Epping Forest Jubilee Retreat MAIN PIPEWORK ADJUSTMENT £50,000 AND OVERHAUL Epping Forest Ivydene, Forest Side KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT £11,000 Epping Forest Old Keepers Lodge, RADIATORS REPLACEMENT £5,000 Wakes Arms Epping Forest The Grotto, LINER REPLACEMENT UNDER £6,000 Wanstead Park GRASS ROOF Epping Forest 2 Keepers Lodge, KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT £11,000 Wanstead Park Epping Forest Butlers Retreat, ROOF REPAIR £12,000 Rangers Road £823,700
City Commons
Property Location Project Title Cost City Commons Riddlesdown CAR PARK & ROADS RESURFACING £6,000 Common General City Commons Keepers Cottage, ROADWAY REPLACEMENT (TO £18,000 Riddlesdown COTTAGE) Common City Commons Farthingdown & New WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT £40,000 Hill General (CONNECT TWO PROPERTIES) City Commons Farthingdown & New CONSERVATION WORKS £2,000 Hill General FOLLOWING QUINQUENNIAL INSPECTION City Commons General DRAINAGE REPLACEMENT £18,000 City Commons 77a Broadhurst Road, ROOF REPLACEMENT (CONCRETE £9,500 Ashtead Common INTERLOCKING) (Staff Lodge)
City Commons 1 Merlewood Close DRAINS REPLACEMENT £4,000 City Commons 1 Merlewood Close GARAGE ROOF REPLACEMENT £2,000 (CORRUGATED) City Commons 2 Merlewood Close BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT £6,000 City Commons 2 Merlewood Close DRAINS REPLACEMENT £5,000 Page 58 City Commons 2 Merlewood Close GARAGE ROOF REPLACEMENT £1,200 (CORRUGATED) City Commons 3 Merlewood Close BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT £3,500 City Commons 3 Merlewood Close DRAINS REPLACEMENT £5,000 City Commons Ninehams Lodge & BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT £6,000 Long Shed, Merlewood Estate City Commons Ninehams Cottage, DRAINS REPLACEMENT £3,500 Senior Keeper's Residence, Merlewood Estate City Commons Keepers Cottage, BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT £6,000 Merlewood Estate City Commons Spring Park Fountain DRAINAGE REPLACEMENT £1,200 City Commons 1 Farthingdown DRAINS REPLACEMENT £5,000 Cottage City Commons 2 Farthingdown DRAINS REPLACEMENT £2,500 Cottage £144,400
Burnham Beeches
Property Location Project Title Cost Burnham General CAR PARK ROAD RESURFACING £24,000 Beeches Burnham Public CCTV & DVR REPLACEMENT £7,000 Beeches Toilets/Information Centre/Café £31,000
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Page 60 Agenda Item 7
Committee(s): Date(s): Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018
Subject: Public London Borough of Culture Opening Event (SEF 28/18) Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report Author: Jacqueline Eggleston - Head of Visitor Services
Summary The first ever London Borough of Culture has been awarded to London Borough of Waltham Forest for 2019. The borough would like to host the opening event on Epping Forest at Chingford Plain, which falls within Waltham Forest.
Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support:
Agreement for the London Borough of Waltham Forest use of Chingford Plain for an opening event for the inaugural year of the London Borough of Culture, on 1st January 2019.
Instruction to the Comptroller and City Solicitor to undertake any necessary documentation.
Main Report
Background 1. The Mayor of London Sadiq Kahn has invited applications from London Boroughs to become the first-ever London Borough of Culture (LBOC). The successful bid was made by Waltham Forest who will present a year of cultural activity in 2019. 2. The London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF) bid celebrated the wealth of artistic and cultural activity in the borough and also highlighted the influence of the green spaces within the borough on creativity. 3. In recognition of this influence on art and creativity LBWF are keen to open their Year of Culture in Epping Forest as one of the borough’s most significant green spaces.
Page 61 4. City of London Epping Forest supported the LBWF bid adding the cultural heritage of the Forest and venues such as Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge as evidence of the cultural activity in the borough. 5. Deputy Catherine McGuiness, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee wrote to Sadiq Kahn to offer a partnership with the City of London Corporation to the Year of Culture confirming an in-principle commitment to put assets and services to best use in support of the programme and that officers would work to deliver the best and most beneficial outcome to achieve LBOC’s objectives.
Current Position 6. LBWF would like to hold the opening event for their London Borough of Culture Year on Chingford Plain in Epping Forest. The event is proposed to take place on 1st January 2019 from late afternoon. 7. Hosting the inaugural LBOC event will provide high profile publicity and attention on Epping Forest. It will be likely to have television and media coverage showing the event which will highlight the landscape of the Forest and promote the location in a positive way to London. 8. Hosting the event will demonstrate how the City of London’s assets contribute to making the City a world class in line with the strategic objectives within the City of London’s Corporate Strategy 2018-22 including Objective 7 ‘Better promote our world class culture and heritage offer and use our wealth of open spaces to widen appeal to a more diverse audience, enabling communities in the City and beyond’. 9. Hosting the event also demonstrates a clear partnership with LBOC in line with the Chairman of Policy and Resources stated commitment. Options 10. Your Committee can consider two options:
10.1 Option 1 – To agree to London Borough of Waltham Forest hosting the inaugural event for the London Borough of Culture 2019 in Epping Forest subject to satisfactorily meeting all licensing requirements. This will provide positive publicity for the Forest, bring new audiences to the Forest and offers partnership and support to LBWF and the Mayor of London. This is recommended
10.2 Option 2 – Not to agree to the London Borough of Waltham Forest hosting the inaugural event for the London Borough of Culture 2019 in Epping Forest. This will be contrary to the commitment offered by the City of London to support LBOC. The event would not be held in Epping Forest and we would not be able to attract new audiences through the event and gain positive publicity. This is not recommended
Page 62 Proposals Event 11. The opening event is proposed to take place on Chingford Plain on 1st January from approximately 4pm. 12. The event will be in the style of a fireworks display but with the use of lasers instead. The exact concept is still in development but the company engaged to design the laser display; Marshmallow Laser Feast (http://marshmallowlaserfeast.com), envisage a site specific installation of laser that will create an artificial forest against the backdrop of the actual Forest. The laser display will be accompanied by a 500-piece choir singing specially commissioned music.
13. The show will also be broadcast at several satellite events across Waltham Forest.
Operations 14. An agreement between the City of London Corporation and LBWF will cover all aspects of the event. See draft Heads of Terms (Appendix 1).
15. An area will be dedicated to mobile catering facilities and stalls to provide entertainment and refreshment throughout the evening.
16. All infrastructure necessary for the event will be hired in by LBWF (such as toilets and generators).
17. Temporary path and trackway will be hired in to protect the ground in areas of high use and pressure.
18. The event will be free to attend but will be ticketed to control numbers.
19. There may be a requirement to fence the event to assist with controlling numbers, but this is still being considered.
20. Parking will be provided at the Bury Road car park and overflow hard standing area. The event will be promoted as accessible by public transport. If deemed necessary in planning stages, the use of shuttle buses may be employed.
21. The meeting room and kitchen at the View will be made available to the event organisers as a control room
22. The Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge has been offered as a hospitality suite for dignitaries and sponsors.
Health and Safety
23. The event will require licensing by the local authority which is LBWF. It will be rigorously examined at their Safety Advisory Group at which officers from Epping Forest attend as well as the Borough Commander, London
Page 63 Ambulance Service, and key officers from council departments such as Highways and Public Protection.
24. The officers organising the event worked on And are accustomed to planning and delivering large scale public events safely.
25. Appropriate numbers of trained stewards and security guards will be used and will have a demonstrated track record in high profile public event security.
26. As with all licensed events held on Epping Forest the relevant insurances, risk assessments and certification will be required.
Corporate & Strategic Implications 27. The event will contribute to the Corporate Plan 2018 – 2023 aim to:
Contribute to a flourishing society.
28. It will help achieve the Corporate Plan outcomes:
Contribute to a flourishing society. 1. People are safe and feel safe 2. People enjoy good health and wellbeing 4. Communities are cohesive and have the facilities they need
29. It will also deliver the Open Spaces Departmental Business Plan top line objectives: A. Open spaces and historic sites are thriving and accessible. B. Spaces enrich people’s lives. C. Business practices are responsible and sustainable.
Financial 30. Funding of the event and preparations will be entirely the responsibility of LBWF.
31. Support offered by EF in kind through licensed use of land, use of QEHL and the View as an event base and hospitality suite and officer time for planning and operational support is valued at over £15,000
Environmental 32. The area of Chingford Plain to be occupied by the event would be demarcated so as to be outside the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) boundaries which encompass the majority of the area. The boundary would also be drawn to avoid damage to sensitive features such as meadow ant ant-hills. The timing of the event would also avoid problems with breeding birds and other protected species.
33. However, the whole of the grasslands and scrub mosaic on the Plain is included within the London Site of Metropolitan Importance to Nature
Page 64 Conservation (MO12) and, therefore, an impact assessment would be carried out to minimise the damage to nature conservation interests and ensure remediation works after the event in line with the habitat protection policies of the Local Plan, the Epping Forest Management Plan and the over-arching responsibilities of the Epping Forest Act (Section 7 (3)). 34. The impact assessment would look at issues including damage to the clay soils and avoidance of compaction, demarcations of access points to ensure no access across SSSI and SAC areas, fencing out of exclusion areas including grassland with ant-hills and thorn scrub.
35. In addition, although the immediate event area would not be situated within the SSSI and SAC it would be adjacent and, therefore, Natural England (NE) would be notified of the impact assessment and the measures being taken to ensure that the SSSI/SAC habitats would be protected. Any concerns from NE would be addressed through this dialogue and action taken accordingly.
Legal 36. Under section 7 of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Act 2018, the City Corporation, including in its capacity as the Conservators of Epping Forest, may, for the purposes of an event, temporarily use or permit others to use land forming part of the open Space for the purposes of the event, provide equipment, facilities or services for the event, and may restrict access to an area of land temporarily so far as necessary in connection with the event.
Section 7(3) provides that the power must be exercised having regard to a policy. The Open Spaces Department and Epping Forest Events Policies were the subject of consultation with the Epping Forest Consultative Committee on its inaugural meeting of 24 January 2018 and were approved by the Epping Forest and Commons Committee on 14 May 2018.
Reputational
Property 37. Suitable licence terms should be agreed with LBWF and put in place prior to the inaugural event to control the use of Forest Land and address issues such as indemnity, damage and reinstatement and other matters to safeguard the City Corporation with suitable authority to do so d4elegated to the City Surveyor in consultation with the Superintendent of Epping Forest and the Comptroller and City Solicitor.
Conclusion 38. The opportunity to host the LBWF’s opening event for the 2019 London Borough of Culture, presents an opportunity to showcase Epping Forest to a wide-ranging audience across London, while also demonstrating a clear example of the City Corporation’s partnership and commitment with LBWF to ensure that the cultural significance of Epping Forest, and Open Spaces more generally, are fully reflected in the year of cultural celebration.
Page 65 Appendices Appendix 1 – Heads of Terms
Jacqueline Eggleston Head of Visitor Services
T: 020 8532 5315 E: [email protected]
Page 66 London Borough of Culture Opening Event
Chingford Plain, London, E4
Heads of Terms - Subject to Contract & Without Prejudice
Tenant (1) London Borough of Waltham Forest (the Council). Property (2) That parcel of land at Chingford Plain, London, E4 as shown on plan and measuring approximately TBA m² (TBA acres). Period (3) Days to start from a date to be no sooner than the Date TBC December 2018. Payment Premium (4) £xxx exclusive of all other costs. Rent (5) To be expressed as the rate of one peppercorn per annum if demanded and without review. Surety (6) The Tenant will provide a bond in the amount of £25,000 to address potential remedial works to the Property following cessation of the Use. Terms Access (7) Access for goods deliveries shall not take place except between the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm between Monday and Friday and between the hours of 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. (8) Access for the Works shall not take place except between the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm between Monday and Friday and between the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sundays. (9) Heavy mechanical equipment may only be used between the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm between Monday and Friday and between the hours of 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays and at no other times. Alienation (10) The Tenant will not share or transfer the agreement to any other person or organisation other than any statutory local authority successor in title. Archaeology (11) The Tenant will ensure adequate protection to all historically important features that are or may be affected by its Works and it will observe any archaeological protection requirements and the City will additionally reserve the right to have suitably qualified experts supervise the Works and suspend the Works if it deems necessary in the interests of protecting historically important features all wholly at the expense of the Tenant and for which the City will have no liability for compensation. Byelaws (12) The Tenant will ensure that the byelaws of Epping Forest are observed at all times except where varied by the agreement terms or by other statutory enactment. Contamination (13) The City will require full indemnity against any contamination arising as a result of the Works or the Use. Costs (14) The Tenant will pay all such reasonable costs as the City might incur in granting any appropriate documentation or for any abortive work in the event that the transaction alters or does not complete and further any costs for attending and supervising and approving the Works and providing any additional management for Epping Forest
Page 67 City Surveyor's Department (RA/6523) page 1 of 4 18 October 2011 London Borough of Culture Opening Event
Chingford Plain, London, E4
Heads of Terms - Subject to Contract & Without Prejudice
due to the Works. Documentation (15) The City reserves the right to require the Tenant to enter into documentation that it deems necessary to deal with the use of the Property or Epping Forest for the Tenant's installations and Use. Indemnity (16) The Tenant will keep the City indemnified against all actions claims costs damages demands disturbance expenses liabilities losses proceedings (including third party risks) howsoever arising from the Works and the User. (17) The City does not warrant the condition of the Property and the Tenant agrees to accept the Property in its prevailing condition with use wholly at its risk. Insurance (18) The Tenant will provide at its expense adequate proof of public liability insurance to the satisfaction of the City. Maintenance (19) The Tenant is to maintain its Works in good and substantial condition at all times. Reinstatement (20) All damage as may be caused to the Property and Epping Forest resulting from the Works and the Use is to be rectified by the Superintendent of Epping Forest upon cessation of the tenancy wholly at the cost of the Tenant for a prior agreed sum to be paid upon cessation of the tenancy and such sum to include for any further remedial works that may become necessary by the first anniversary of the cessation with any unspent monies thereafter to be refunded to the Tenant within such reasonable period to be agreed by the parties at that time. Signs (21) The Tenant will not display any signs other than suitable and appropriate promotion, direction and warning signs or other signs as the Superintendent of Epping Forest may require and to his satisfaction in every respect. Statements (22) The Tenant will provide or commission wholly at its expense for the approval of the Superintendent of Epping Forest and to his satisfaction prior to any works commencement each of the following as separate documents to address the relevant detailed issues connected with the Works; (a) Health & Safety Statement. (b) Risk Assessment. (c) Site Management Strategy (d) Method of Works Statement. (e) Scheme of Archaeological Investigation and Mitigation. (f) Waste Removal Scheme. (g) Noise Mitigation Scheme for any mechanical equipment. Statutory (23) The Tenant will obtain all such statutory consents and approvals as necessary and Consents will produce copies of the same at its expense to the Superintendent of Epping Forest upon request. Temporary (24) Where it may be necessary to create any temporary diversionary track(s) for Track pedestrians or horse riders, such route(s) will be as identified by the Superintendent of Epping Forest and laid out to his requirements and subject to the Reinstatement
Page 68 City Surveyor's Department (RA/6523) page 2 of 4 18 October 2011 London Borough of Culture Opening Event
Chingford Plain, London, E4
Heads of Terms - Subject to Contract & Without Prejudice
provisions. Use (25) A Police Temporary Muster and Briefing and Deployment Centre solely in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Authority Central Operations policing activity for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. VAT (26) All sums stated herein are exclusive of VAT which is to be paid in addition where relevant. Vehicles (27) The Tenant and its authorised Works contractors will observe a 5 mph speed limit and utilise hazard warning lights at all times while driving on Epping Forest. (28) Vehicles must give way to pedestrians on Epping Forest at all times. (29) No vehicles will be allowed to manoeuvre on Epping Forest or drive over Epping Forest except the Property. All vehicular entry and exit and activity must be planned accordingly. (30) Any vehicle manoeuvring upon the Property which is not separated from the public with a secure boundary must be supervised with banksmen at the front and rear of the vehicle. (31) Vehicle gross laden weight must not cause injury to any part of Epping Forest or the Property. (32) The Tenant will ensure that every vehicle which is brought onto Epping Forest and onto the Property is roadworthy and fit for its purpose in every respect and does not cause a nuisance and is properly insured under the provisions of the road traffic acts proof of which the Superintendent of Epping Forest may require to be demonstrated. Works (33) The Works may not commence prior to the Tenant first having obtained approval Commencement from the Superintendent of Epping Forest to the Statements nor may the Tenant take & Occupation occupation of the Property prior to having given the Superintendent of Epping Forest a minimum of seven days prior written notice of the intention to commence Works. Works (34) To be specified. (35) All structures that are to be placed on the property are to be mobile and temporary and capable of removal and excepting the proposed water supply should not be permanent installations of any description. (36) All temporary hardstanding and hardsurfacing used for siting of any storage vessels including WC facilities must be impermeable and in addition none of the temporary ground surface covering is to cause damage or compaction to the Property. (37) The installation of suitable bunds around all storage vessels including WC facilities to prevent the spread of potential pollutants (38) The Tenant will keep its works in a safe and secure condition at all times and ensure that no loose equipment and materials are left lying around on Epping Forest. (39) The Tenant will ensure that the Property is kept in a clean and tidy condition but shall not be responsible for matters actions or failures outside of its control. All works will
Page 69 City Surveyor's Department (RA/6523) page 3 of 4 18 October 2011 London Borough of Culture Opening Event
Chingford Plain, London, E4
Heads of Terms - Subject to Contract & Without Prejudice
be undertaken safely and in such a way as to keep noise and dust to a minimum and at times and in a manner that will not inconvenience or endanger the City's staff or the public using Epping Forest in any way whatsoever and in all respects subject to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Epping Forest. (40) No plant or equipment or material may be deposited or dismantled or erected or demolished on Epping Forest except upon the Property and only then according to a prior agreed works method statement. (41) Adequate measures are to be taken to prevent subsidence of surrounding ground into any excavations that may be undertaken by the Tenant. (42) All works will be undertaken using the good established practice and to accepted industry standards and using proper and suitable materials. (43) Where relevant disturbance of surrounding soil must be made good according to the Soil Reinstatement requirements and to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Epping Forest whose decision shall be final. (44) In the execution of the Works the Tenant will undertake such other works as may be reasonably required and directed by the Superintendent of Epping Forest to ensure that the safety and integrity of Epping Forest is not prejudiced. (45) All natural finishes to the Property are to be made good wholly to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Epping Forest acting reasonably and prior to cessation of the Period. (46) Reinstatement of soil where necessary to be according to the Soil Specification (47) Reinstatement of any affected track where necessary to be according to the Track Specification.
Page 70 City Surveyor's Department (RA/6523) page 4 of 4 18 October 2011 Agenda Item 8
Committee(s) Dated: Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018 Subject: Public The Jubilee London Plane Avenue, Woodford Green: Future Management Proposals (SEF 27/18) Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report author: Geoff Sinclair, Head of Operations, Epping Forest
Summary
The report outlines the main findings of an arboricultural assessment of the 89 tree Jubilee avenue comprising alternating Black Poplar and London Plane on Forest Land at Woodford Green. The pollarded Poplars are near the end of their lifespan, while the longer-lived London Plane has not established well and are of poor form and will be increasingly susceptible to Massaria Disease in the future.
The assessment makes recommendations for the long-term management of the Jubilee Avenue which would require public consultation and Conservation Area consent. The extent of required arboricultural interventions suggest that the staged replanting of Jubilee Avenue, at a cost of £20,000 over ten years, would be the most effective method of maintaining this landscape feature. The report also suggests a public sponsorship scheme to fund replanting of the renamed Churchill Avenue.
Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support
Public consultation on a staged approach to replacing the Jubilee Avenue, as set out in option 5, to maintain as much visual continuity as possible;
Public consultation on the choice of replacement species based on a shortlist of appropriate native hardwood species: English Oak, Hornbeam and Flowering Cherry.
That the Jubilee Avenue be formally renamed the Churchill Avenue given its clear association with the Churchill statue.
The establishment of a sponsorship appeal to raise funds to meet the cost of replacement trees and their establishment.
Page 71 Main Report
Background
1. Land at Woodford Green was acquired by the City of London Corporation on 1 May 1882 and has been held in trust as part of Epping Forest. On acquisition the 39.5 acres (16ha) of greenspace were surrounded by open fields, which were subsequently subject to late Victorian and Edwardian residential development led by the London Land Company.
2. A distinctive landscape feature bordering and crossing Woodford Green is a network of tree avenues with two main north-south running tree avenues:
a. Woodford Green Chestnut Avenue – a 1.9 km avenue of originally 191 Horse Chestnut Trees stretching between Burlington Place to the north of Woodford Green to Broomhill Walk near the A119/A104 junction to the south of Woodford Green
b. The Jubilee London Plane Avenue – known locally as the ‘Churchill Avenue’ an avenue of 89 remaining London Plane (Platanus acerifolia) and hybrid Poplar (Populus spp) running between Broadmead Road (A1009) on the north and High Road (A119) to the south.
3. Tree avenue planting has been a significant feature of British rural and urban landscapes. Avenues were first planted in the 16th century to provide shaded walks close to large houses. By the 17th century, more ambitious schemes crossing parks or forming an approach to a feature or vista became more common. Charles Bridgeman’s 1720 Lime Avenue at Stowe Landscape Park and more locally George London’s 1710 avenues at Wanstead Park are the culmination of the avenue planting fashion. Tree avenues remained a popular feature until the mid-nineteenth century, enjoying a brief revival in late Victorian period civic schemes to celebrate the Monarch’s Jubilees and avenues of honour linked to military campaigns.
4. The current avenue replaced an avenue of 79 Black Poplars originally planted in 1886 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887. This earlier avenue had been allowed to grow to maturity, however, in 1966/67 following an incident of a branch falling close to a child it was decided that the avenue would need to be replaced. The felling of the 1886 avenue proved highly contentious with a vigorous local campaign challenging the need to fell the trees. This proved unsuccessful and the 1880 avenue was felled, and the current avenue replanted in 1967.
5. The intention was for the current avenue to be comprised of London Plane trees and these were planted at 40 feet intervals. London Plane was chosen for its ability to be longer lived than the original hybrid Poplars, which are fast growing and become over-mature more quickly with the attendant tree safety concerns.
6. To encourage the upward growth of the London Planes, and to establish an avenue effect quickly, hybrid Poplar trees were planted as ‘nurse trees’ in between the London Plane trees. The intention was that the Poplars would be
Page 72 removed once their role as a nurse tree had ended at around 20 years of age. Unfortunately, the Poplars were never felled, and they have grown to maturity to dominate the avenue, while the London Plane has not established well and are much smaller and of poorer form.
7. On the 13th October 1997 your committee agreed to reducing the size of the Poplars by 50%. This was to allow room for the London Plane to develop as fine specimens and to maintain a full avenue in the process. The sudden removal of the Poplars was advised against as it was feared that this might expose the London Plane to wind damage which would inhibit their development and detract from their visual impact. Subsequently the tops of the Poplar were cut off at around 6m with a further episode of crown reduction carried out two-thirds of the way up the regrowing stems arising from the initial 6m cut level. This second phase of work was likely to have been seeking to alleviate the weight of the crown but without resorting to a complete re-pollard to the 6m level which would have left the trees considerably disfigured. This work was in contrast to the proposal in the October 1997 reports where repollarding every 2-3 years was recommended.
8. The Jubilee Avenue is within the Woodford Green Conservation Area established in 1970 by the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest. The Avenue forms a backdrop to the Grade II listed Winston Churchill statue at the Junction of High Rd (A1199) and Broomhill Walk. The statue was erected in October 1959 and listed in 2016. The lines of the 1967 avenue was modified to ensure it was better aligned to the statue than the earlier avenue. As a consequence of these changes the avenue has become more associated with Winston Churchill than with the Jubilee of Queen Victoria and is now locally known as the Churchill Avenue rather than the Jubilee Avenue.
9. The Woodford Tree Avenue is in an amber tree safety zone and is surveyed every three years for arboricultural actions required. At the last survey (Appendix 2) in 2016 eight Poplar trees (14% of the total) were identified as requiring complete repollarding. As well as these eight trees it was considered that the remaining trees will increasingly require similar arboricultural interventions to manage the risks posed by them and that this would start to have a highly visible adverse effect on the aesthetics of the avenue.
10. The disease, commonly known as Massaria disease (Splanchnonema plantini), infects branches of plane trees. The fungus has usually been considered to be a weak parasite causing only minor damage, such as twig dieback, in warmer Mediterranean climates. However, in the 21st century it has been found associated with branch death and rapid decay within other parts of Europe. There are over 600 London Plane trees forming avenues in Epping Forest, typically alongside roads. The weakening of branches by the disease so that they are increasingly likely to fail has become a significant management concern. Between 2016 and 2017, Epping Forest arborists had to work between 10 and 20% of the Plane trees along roadsides, following specialist inspections, to make the trees safe. Given the impact of Massaria disease the planting of new Plane trees is no longer envisaged.
Page 73 Current Position
11. The City of London Corporation commissioned Islington Tree Service in 2016 to prepare an arboricultural assessment report on the current tree condition and the management options available for the Jubilee Plane Tree Avenue (Appendix 1). The following report outlines the main findings of the 2016 Islington report and makes recommendations for progressing the long-term management of the Jubilee/Churchill Avenue while relating any proposed changes to possible longer-term management needs of the avenue more generally.
12. The 58 hybrid Poplar trees and 31 London Plane trees were surveyed on the 22nd January 2016 by Islington Tree Services. The hybrid Poplars were found to be generally uniform in size with stems of between 450mm to 600mm diameter and canopy spread of 10-15m and a height of 15-20m. Many of the trees have attained a large size with limbs of elongated form that are heavily end weighted and with poor attachment. If left to grow without management, the trees would pose a high risk of crown failure and constitute a significant hazard to pedestrian use of the avenue path
13. The large diameter of the regrowth necessitates that any crown reduction is best undertaken so that trees are cut back to the 6m high cut level. Continuing with the higher tier reduction would require repollarding on a cyclical basis of approximately five years in order to maintain the trees with low hazard stable crowns. Given Poplar’s relatively poor ability to withstand decay indicates that either management option, due to the significant wounds cutting will cause, are not long-term solutions for sustaining a prominent tree avenue in this location. Equally, either management option will result in substantially reduced stature trees of relatively poor form and again eroding the aesthetic appeal of the avenue
14. Unfortunately, in comparison to the Poplars, the 31 existing London Planes have established poorly and are of disparate size and do not offer any prospect of being suitable for promotion to long-term avenue trees, especially given the presence of Massaria disease in Epping Forest.
15. Tree Avenue Management Options - Six management options were outlined in the report:
Option 1: no action.
Option 2: Pollard crown reduction of all avenue trees (Poplar and London Plane).
Option 3: Pollard crown reduction of all Poplars and fell all intermediary London Planes.
Option 4: Fell and replant entire avenue.
Option 5: Fell and replant entire avenues in stages.
Option 6: Establish new avenue alongside the existing avenue.
Page 74 16. Option 1 No Action – Given the City Corporations obligations under the Occupiers Liability and Health and Safety at Works Acts this option is unrealistic. The option is not recommended.
17. Options 2 & 3 Pollard Crown reductions - Due to the relatively short 50-60-year lifespan of Poplar trees and the current poor arboricultural condition of the trees, it is proposed that we should focus on management options that looked to establish a successor avenue. These options are not recommended.
18. Option 4 Fell and replant the entire avenue - The avenue is located in an area with a network of impressive mature tree avenues. Despite the presence of the nearby Chestnut Avenue, the loss of the Jubilee Avenue in one operation would remove a much-appreciated landscape feature which also forms the backdrop to the Grade II listed Winston Churchill statue with perhaps three decades until a sufficient backdrop is established. This option is not recommended.
19. Option 5 Fell and replant the avenue in stages - The staged replacement of the avenue, is the option which best facilitates the long-term replacement of the avenue with more long-lived and disease resistant species, while reducing tree safety issues and retaining the best aesthetic solution. This Option is recommended.
20. Option 6 Establish a new avenue alongside the existing avenue - There is insufficient space to establish a new avenue alongside the current one that meets the needs of complementing the Grade II listed Winston Churchill Statue. This option is not recommended.
Proposals
21. In progressing any regeneration option for the avenue, a key requirement is to ensure the new planted tree has the best conditions to establish and grow quickly. As well as good maintenance, the site conditions need to be appropriate for the species chosen. When interplanting within established tree avenues there is a need to ensure there is sufficient light reaching the planted tree. Established mature trees respond quickly to light gaps and their crown quickly grows into gaps potentially increasingly shading the planted trees 15-20 m below.
22. To progress Option 5, it is therefore proposed that a two-phase approach is required as outlined in Table 2. The duration of the process will be determined by the growth of the establishing trees but is likely to be in the order of 10 or so years. This approach would see two adjacent trees on each row felled and the resulting gap planted with a single replacement tree. Felling would be staggered between the two tree rows. Felling two trees on a row will ensure sufficient light reaches the new planted tree to ensure it can establish and thrive.
23. Under Option 5 the retained Poplar trees will be repollarded, as once they are exposed to a more open environment their canopy will become predisposed to wind damage.
Page 75 Table 2: Proposed Replacement for the Woodford Poplar Avenue
24. Existing main avenue tree species in the Woodford Green Conservation Area are now considered unsuitable as replacements for both disease and arboricultural reasons. The selection of a new avenue tree species for the Jubilee Avenue may in due course influence the species chosen to replace the remaining avenue trees within the Conservation area.
25. Because of the dominance of the Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Special Area of Conservation which favours the natural regeneration of native species Epping Forest does not have a species-based tree planting policy. However, where specific planting initiatives have been made at Gaunt Wood, the Trafalgar planting and most recently Gifford’s Wood, selection has been made from the traditional Epping Forest ‘palette’ of Oak, Beech and Hornbeam. Beech is increasingly less favoured in new plantings in relation to concerns regarding climate change adaptation.
26. The Arboricultural Assessment will also need some careful thought to the aesthetics of Avenue design as canopy form and height relative to avenue width and length can determine the success of an avenue. The current harmonious relationship between tree height and road width across the Chestnut Avenue is a positive landscape attribute. Whereas, the tall character of the Jubilee Avenue and its narrow width are considered to be less successful.
27. Potential species appropriate for the location and which fit Epping Forest’s native woodland conservation perspective would include:
a. English Oak (Quercus robur)
b. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
28. To sustain the spring blossoming spectacle of the avenues a possible option could be to establish flowering cherry avenues, along the lines of some Asian
Page 76 countries. In time the mass flowering across the Woodford Wells and Woodford Green Conservation Area could become as distinctive and emblematic as the Horse Chestnut avenues today. Cherry has the further advantage that it does not grow unduly large and is less of a tree safety concern requiring much less arboricultural intervention once established, although its shallow roots can pose an issue, e.g. in cracking up pavements.
29. To reflect the current local practice of referring to the avenue as the ‘Churchill Avenue’ it is proposed that the avenue be formally renamed as the Churchill Avenue.
Corporate & Strategic Implications
30. Legal – The Epping Forest Act 1878 under section 33(1)(i) provides the City Corporation with powers ‘To fell, cut, lop and manage in due course the timber and other trees, pollards and underwoods, and to sell and dispose of the timber cuttings and loppings, and to receive the proceeds, and to plant trees and shrubs for shelter or ornament’. In exercising powers in relation to planting the Conservators shall not do anything that would materially take away or hinder the exercise of rights of common (sub-section (2))
31. The avenue is within the Woodford Green Conservation Area. Conservation Areas are areas of special architectural or historic interest, designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Consequently, tree management is subject to oversight by the London Borough of Redbridge as the Local Planning Authority, with six weeks prior notice required to be given to them of the proposed felling and other tree works. This enables the Local Planning Authority to decide if any of the trees should be made subject to a Tree Preservation Order. Those carrying out works to trees should ensure they do not contravene laws protecting wildlife and must have a regard to statutory obligations concerning protected species.
32. Financial – The cost of replanting the Jubilee Avenue is estimated at £20,000 spread over ten or more years but with two periods or main financial outlay when trees are planted. There is a considerable potential to secure local sponsorship of the planted trees otherwise operational costs would be met through the Epping Forest Local Risk budget. It is proposed that tree felling and arboricultural interventions will be undertaken by in-house staff and which is estimated will take four weeks to complete.
33. Communications: Previous works in this area have attracted significant public comment and concern. Prior to any works commencing extensive liaison with local stakeholders, including the local planning authority, should be undertaken to identify and address issues of concern.
Conclusion
34. Increasing tree safety concerns have resulted in the need to consider the replacement of the Jubilee Avenue in the Woodford Green Conservation Area
Page 77 35. A phased approach to replacing the avenue is proposed to minimise the overall landscape disruption. The choice of replacement species will be subject to consultation with local stakeholders with the suggestion that a shortlist of the following appropriate species be presented: English Oak, Hornbeam and Flowering Cherry.
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Woodford Green Avenue Arboricultural report, Islington Tree Services
Background Papers
Price, Colin (2009), Epping Forest Avenues Report The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 02 September 1966 The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 07 October 1966 The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 13 October 1997
Geoff Sinclair Head of Operations T: 020 532 1010 E: [email protected]
Page 78
Tree Survey
on behalf of
The City of London
Location: Woodford Green Avenue
Ref: ITS/TS/EPPFOR16
Report by: GAC Date: 22/02/16
Islington Tree Service 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected] Page 79 1
Contents
1 Introduction ...... 3 1.1 Client Brief - Instruction ...... 3 1.2 Documents Supplied ...... 3 1.3 The Author ...... 3 2 Tree Survey ...... 4 2.1 Site visit ...... 4 2.2 Scope of the Tree Survey ...... 4 2.3 Tree Survey Method ...... 4 3 Site Overview ...... 5 4 History of The Avenue ...... 5 4.1 1880 Black Poplar Avenue ...... 5 4.2 1967 Avenue Re-planting ...... 6 4.3 Recent Management of the Poplar Trees ...... 7 4.4 Recent Tree Inspections of the Poplar Trees ...... 8 5 Tree Condition survey ...... 9 5.1 Quantity and Dimensions ...... 9 5.2 Poplar Trees ...... 9 5.3 London Plane Trees ...... 10 5.4 Understorey Trees ...... 12 6 Management Options ...... 13 6.1 Option 1 - No Action ...... 13 6.2 Option 2 – Pollard Crown Reduction of all Avenue Trees ...... 13 6.3 Option 3 – Pollard Crown Reduction of all Poplars and Fell all Intermediary London Planes 13 6.4 Option 4 – Fell and Replant Entire Avenue ...... 14 6.5 Option 5 – Fell and Replant Entire Avenue in Stages...... 14 6.6 Option 6 – Establish New Avenue Alongside the Existing Avenue ...... 14 7 Additional Management Options ...... 15 7.1 Option 1 – Understorey Removal ...... 15 8 Appendices ...... 16 8.1 Contacts List ...... 16 8.2 Relevant Qualifications and Experience ...... 16 Islington Tree Service, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected]
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8.3 Implementation of Works ...... 17 8.4 Trees Subject to Statutory Controls ...... 17 8.5 Limitations...... 17 8.6 Distribution ...... 17 8.7 Copyright ...... 17 8.8 References ...... 18 9 Site Plan with Tree Locations (as plotted on Arbortrack software system) ...... 19
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1 Introduction
1.1 Client Brief - Instruction
1.1.1 Islington Tree Service has been commissioned by Gavin Bodenham, Senior Conservation Officer, Open Spaces Department, Epping Forest, City of London to undertake a tree survey for the existing tree population comprising the Woodford Green Avenue.
1.2 Documents Supplied
1.2.1 Mr Bodenham,supplied the following documents: 1. Excerpt from ‘The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 02 September 1966 2. Excerpt from ‘The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 07 October 1966 3. Public Note entitled ‘IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING’ issued by the Superintendent of Epping Forest (undated)
1.3 The Author
1.3.1 This report has been compiled by Geoff Clack, Tree Inspector for Islington Council. Full details of relevant qualifications and experience are located in Appendix 8.2.
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2 Tree Survey
2.1 Site visit
2.1.1 The site was visited on the 22ndJanuary 2016 to record the relevant tree data.
2.1.2 The weather at the time of the survey was raining, but with reasonable visibility.
2.1.3 Location plans can be found in section 3 of this report and in section 9 of the Appendices. The plans are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for direct scaling of measurements.
2.2 Scope of the Tree Survey
2.2.1 The objective of the report is to survey the subject trees in order to assess their general condition; to record defects and to make recommendations for safety and maintenance works, where necessary.
2.3 Tree Survey Method
2.3.1 All observations were from ground level with the aid of binoculars. The height of each subject tree was measured using a clinometer, unless otherwise indicated.
2.3.2 The trees were inspected on the basis of the Visual Tree Assessment method expounded by Mattheck and Broeler (1994) and hazard assessment to Lonsdale D. (1999).
2.3.3 All data was recorded on Epping Forest’s Arbortrack software management system.
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3 Site Overview
3.1.1 The Woodford Green Avenue is a double avenue containing a total number of 91 avenue trees and a number of small understorey trees, located on the East side of Woodford Green, Greater London, IG8. It commences approximately 20m to the north of the Winston Churchill Statue at the Junction of High Rd (A1199) and Broomhill Walk and extends northeast in parallel with Broomhill Walk for 480m until it meets the A1009. It is bordered at its Northwest end for 115m by Woodford Green Cricket Club Ground.
Woodford Green Cricket Club Ground
Woodford Green Avenue
Winston Churchill Statue
3.1.2 The Churchill Statue was awarded grade II listed status in January 2016. The Woodford Green Avenue is located within a conservation area. 4 History of The Avenue
4.1 1880 Black Poplar Avenue
4.1.1 A double avenue of 79 Black Poplars was originally planted at this location in 1880(1). However, in 1966, after a reported incident whereby a live branch from one of the poplars fell close to a child, the trees were assessed to be hazardous due to ‘that brittleness associated with the age of the tree’(2) and a decision was made by the Superintendent of Epping Forest to fell and replant the Location of avenue. The alternative options to prune the heavier original Black Poplar Avenue branches or to top the trees were dismissed as it was 1945 considered they ‘would disfigure the trees’(2).
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4.1.2 Efforts were made by the Superintendent to ‘forestall public criticism of any complete felling of the trees’ by ‘the placing of appropriate notices before felling’ and by issuing a press statement ‘in explanation of the steps which the committee are obliged to take in the circumstances’(1).
4.1.3 Despite these precautions, upon commencement of the felling works ‘much local interest was aroused and the several editions of the local papers gave the matter wide publicity when they appeared on 30 September. The Guardian newspapers headline was “MP Leads Tree Felling Uproar” and quoted Mr Patrick Jenkin MP as saying “There is going to be a
frightful row. In fact, I’m starting it.”’ (1).
4.2 1967 Avenue Re-planting
4.2.1 The avenue was replanted in 1967 and a replacement species, the London Plane, was
chosen ‘after prolonged consideration’(3) due to its propensity to be very long-lived. The Superintendent stated that ‘longevity is of the utmost importance if only to avoid too soon in future history, a repetition of the present distress, which can be attributed to the unfortunate choice of tree that was made when the avenue was originally planted. The poplar is a tree which, whilst having a rapid growth rate for which reason it was no doubt selected, becomes over-mature (with the dangers inherent in such a state) in a relatively
short period of time.’(3).
4.2.2 The replacement avenue was replanted with London plane trees at 40ft intervals, and was re-oriented to be in line with the statue of Winston Churchill which had been erected to the South of the avenue in 1959. Poplars were also planted between the planes as a nurse crop in order that ‘(i) by filling the gaps they would encourage earlier height growth in the planes than at 40ft intervals would otherwise be the case and (ii) the poplars would assist in the more speedy re-creation of the avenue effect.’ It was then stated that ‘The poplars will be removed in due time, 20 years or thereabouts, whilst still relatively in the “pole”
stage of growth.’(3).
4.2.3 Unfortunately, the nurse crop of poplars was never felled as intended; they have subsequently grown to maturity and are now the dominant feature of the avenue. The London plane trees - in comparison - have not established well between the poplars. They are much smaller with many of poor form and a number have failed entirely. Two London plane trees being the furthest trees at the south end of the avenue have established to a similar size to the poplars, as have some extant planes at the far end of the north of the avenue. The avenue currently consists of a double row of 58 dominant mature poplars, with 51 of the original London planes remaining.
Sources: (1) - Excerpt from ‘The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 02 September 1966 (2) - Excerpt from ‘The Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest’ dated 07 October 1966 (3) - Public Note entitled ‘IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING’ issued by the Superintendent of Epping Forest (undated)
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4.3 Recent Management of the Poplar Trees
4.3.1 The poplar trees planted in 1967 have been subject to past management. They have been historically topped at 6m to form a high pollard, with cuts to the central stem of approximately 300mm diameter, and cuts to the primary limbs of approximately 150mm to 200mm diameter. Action of this type would most likely have been undertaken to reduce hazards associated with the mature pre-pollard crown. This is not a preferred management option for the trees because it creates large wounds which may then be at risk of decay or which may provide entry points for disease, particularly on the central stem where the tree has limited capacity of natural repair. In addition, due to the weaker re-growth that results from such management - particularly in poplars - further regular ongoing maintenance is then necessitated to keep the crown in a stable condition. It was for this reason, that poplars had been dismissed as being an inappropriate species for replanting the Avenue in 1967.
4.3.2 An additional tier of crown reduction has also subsequently been carried out, two thirds of the way up the re-grown pollard limbs of the poplars (approximately 5 years ago) evidently with the intention of alleviating the weight of the crown, without resorting to a complete re-pollard to the original 6m pollard form.
4.3.3 The poplars are of a uniform size with upright stems. There are no visible defects on any of the stems below crownbreak.
Second tier crown reduction at approx. 10m.
Poplars topped at 6m on main stem of approx. 300mm diameter.
Original lateral limb pollard points of approx. 150mm to 200mm diameter.
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4.4 Recent Tree Inspections of the Poplar Trees
4.4.1 A condition report on the avenue was produced in 2007 by Arboricultural Consultant Simon Pryce. He noted that ‘a problem does loom with the poplars, the re-growth is becoming a hazard and my recommendation would be to re-pollard at the original points, just to make them safe’.
4.4.2 On 4th December 2015, eight of the avenue poplars located by the Woodford Green cricket pitch boundary were assessed by tree inspectors from Islington Council as part of routine safety inspections of high use areas across Epping Forest. All eight poplars were recommended for re-pollarding due to the presence of poor lapsed re-growth over the cricket pitch and one showed evidence of a large historic limb rip-out failure at a pollard point.
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5 Tree Condition survey
5.1 Quantity and Dimensions
5.1.1 There are 58 mature Poplars in the avenue of a generally uniform size, with stems of between 450mm to 600mm diameter, a canopy spread of 10 to 15m and a height of 15 to 20m. Some additional smaller multi-stemmed poplars are found and both ends of the avenue which are either self-set, or are re-growths from the stumps of previously felled trees.
5.2 Poplar Trees
5.2.1 The past management of the poplar trees that describes their high pollard form has been outlined in section 4.3. The defects associated with this form are described below.
Original lateral limb pollard points of approx. 150mm to 200mm diameter– displaying weak dog-legged unions, and vertical compression forks with included unions.
Regrowth is now heavily end-weighted.
Decay of the central stem at the 6m pollard point is evident on 25 of the 58 poplars.
However, 33 poplars have produced good
woundwood on the central stem with no
external evidence of decay.
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Two locations were observed where vertical pollard re- growth has historically failed causing branch drop.
5.3 London Plane Trees
5.3.1 In comparison to the poplars, the avenue of 51 London planes has established poorly and is of disparate size. Twenty are absent, having evidently failed; eighteen are of small and sparse stature with a stem of up to 150mm diameter and a height and spread of up to 5m. Four of these have a poor low forking structural form, one is leaning at an acute angle and another is very sparse and in poor condition. Fifteen of the planes have stems of 150 to 300mm diameter, a canopy spread of 5 to 10m and a height of 10 to 15m.
Poor Form London Planes: Suppressed, Sparse, Forked, Leaning
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5.3.2 The growth rate of the London planes have been subject to suppression by the shading and competition of the faster growing adjacent poplars. However, the planes have grown slower than would be expected even under these circumstances. The two planes situated at the south end of the avenue have the most optimum position in the avenue, being of south facing aspect with little competition for shading and rootspace, yet these also have not grown to the size that could be expected of this species in 50 years in a similar location. Gavin Bodenham has communicated that this area of the Woodford Green is subject to waterlogging. This fact, coupled with some compaction from pedestrian use, are factors that would favour the shallower rooted poplars and which would be deleterious to the planes.
The two London Planes situated at the southern end of the avenue.
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A number of London Plane trees are absent in the section of avenue by the
cricket pitch.
(view = looking south)
5.4 Understorey Trees
5.4.1 Areas of scrub and bramble and a number of young stunted multi-stemmed trees of poor form, principally oak, have established around the base of the avenue trees.
Understorey scrub and young multi-stemmed trees.
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6 Management Options
6.1 Option 1 - No Action
6.1.1 The pollard re-growth of the poplar trees in the avenue has attained a large size with limbs of elongated form that are heavily end weighted and with poor attachments. If left to continue to grow without any management, the trees would pose a high risk of crown failure and constitute a significant hazard to pedestrian use of the avenue path.
6.2 Option 2 – Pollard Crown Reduction of all Avenue Trees
6.2.1 The large diameter size of the poplar’s re-growth points from the historical 6m high pollard necessitates that any crown reduction of these trees be cut back to the original pollard points. A higher tier reduction would provide only minimal and temporary alleviation of the hazards associated with their present form. The evident vigour and wound healing capacity of the majority of the poplars in response to the historical pollard suggests that the trees would respond favourably to a re-pollard. The resultant re-growth would require continued re-pollarding on a cyclical basis of approximately 5 years (depending on the rate of re-growth) in order to maintain a low hazard stable crown.
6.2.2 The level of decay or dieback of the central stems of the poplars would be subject to a climbing inspection during the works at each pollard cycle.
6.2.3 In order to maintain the uniformity of the avenue, and to ensure that some of the larger planes do not start to outcompete the pollarded poplars, the remnant London planes would be brought into a pollard rotation in tandem with the poplars. The exception to this could be the two planes at the south end of the avenue, and those at the north end which have better form, and whose retention in natural form would serve to frame the avenue at either end without particular detriment to re-growth of the rest of the avenue.
6.2.4 A cyclical pollard regime would ensure that the avenue can be maintained with low hazards for as long as there is minimal advancement of any decay at the pollard points, which could potentially be for several cycles. However, the stature of the avenue will be permanently reduced from its present size to fluctuate between 6m and approximately 12m every 5 years or so, and so will not achieve the stature or longevity that was originally intended for the avenue.
6.3 Option 3 – Pollard Crown Reduction of all Poplars and Fell all Intermediary London Planes
6.3.1 The uniformity of the avenue may best be retained by managing the poplars as pollards as described in option 2 (in section 6.2), and by removing the remnant intermediary planes entirely. Eighteen planes are already missing and the remainder are of disparate quality of form and vigour. If they were to be maintained as pollards adjacent to the poplars, they may grow at a different rate, and the planes would be likely to continue to perform poorly alongside the faster growing poplars. Islington Tree Service, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected]
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6.4 Option 4 – Fell and Replant Entire Avenue
6.4.1 The current dominant trees in the avenue, the poplars, were planted purely as a 20 year nursery crop to aid the establishment of the London planes. They are not a suitable avenue species in their present state, and will continue to pose a hazard if not subject to regular management. The avenue’s chosen species - the London planes - have performed poorly in this location, with many missing and of poor form, meaning that re-establishment of a London Plane avenue would be problematic. The option to fell the entire avenue would provide the opportunity to replant a species more suitable to the location that would establish a mature avenue of trees as was originally intended. However, the impact of such an option would mean that a number of years would pass with the complete absence of an avenue effect, until the new trees became established. The few London Plane trees that have established well and that are of good form at either end of the avenue could be retained without detriment to the establishment of the new avenue. The two planes at the southern end of the avenue, if retained, would maintain a suitable backdrop to the Churchill Statue.
6.5 Option 5 – Fell and Replant Entire Avenue in Stages
6.5.1 In order to lessen the visual impact of removing and replanting the entire avenue at the same time (section 6.4 - option 4), the felling and replanting process could be carried out in stages. The feasibility of such a process would have to be fully investigated and carefully planned. The first new planting would need to be free from shading and competition from the trees not yet removed, and the interval between the stages should be close enough that the final uniformity of the avenue can still be achieved.
6.6 Option 6 – Establish New Avenue Alongside the Existing Avenue
6.6.1 A new avenue of trees of a suitable species for the location could be planted adjacent to the existing avenue with the intention of replacing it once the new avenue had matured sufficiently. This option would mitigate the impact of the loss of the poplar avenue when it is felled. Various considerations as to the location for planting a new avenue would need to be considered due to a lack of space and competition with other trees to the east of the existing avenue, and by the cricket pitch boundary. Planting either side of the existing avenue would result in a wider avenue. A new avenue orientation could therefore potentially be considered with a north-westerly aspect from the Churchill statue towards the cricket pavilion.
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7 Additional Management Options
7.1 Option 1 – Understorey Removal
7.1.1 The young multi-stemmed trees that have established to form an understorey around the base of the avenue trees may potentially grow to a size where they start to compete with the avenue trees. They are of poor form which at a larger size may also require ongoing management.
7.1.2 The effect of the understorey trees between the avenue trees could be considered contrary to the original intended aesthetic of the uniform avenue effect; as such they could be regarded as suitable for removal. This management option should be weighed against the beneficial ecological habitat provided by the understorey trees and scrub at this location.
Islington Tree Service, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected]
Page 94 Trees\TreeManagement\Clients\EPPFOR\WGReport 8 Appendices
8.1 Contacts List
Name Company Role Email Phone
Open Spaces Gavin Department - Client [email protected] Bodenham Epping Forest, 0208 5321010 City of London Islington Council Tree Geoff Clack [email protected] (Tree Service) Inspector 07825 098290 Tree Jake Tibbetts Islington Council Service [email protected] (Tree Service) 07826904840 Manager
8.2 Relevant Qualifications and Experience
8.2.1 Geoff Clackhas 6 years’ experience in the arboricultural sector, and a previous 10 years in the utilities mapping sector. He moved into the public sector in 2014 as the Tree Inspector for Islington Borough Council.
8.2.2 He keeps professionally up to date by regular attendance at seminars, conferences, membership of professional bodies and has a regular program of training. Qualification Date BA Hons English 1997 National Diploma in Arboriculture 2011 Lantra Professional Tree Inspection 2011 N.P.T.C. Chainsaw certificates 30, 31 & 38 2012 N.P.T.C. Pesticides certificates PA1 & PA6 2012 Lantra Arboriculture and Bats – A guide for Practitioners 2014 Wildlife and Woodlands Ecology – Anglia Ecology 2015 BS5837 Tree Surveying and Categoristion 2015 Great Crested Newt Licence – Natural England 2015
Signed:
Dated: 22/02/16
Islington Tree Service 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected] Page 95 17
8.3 Implementation of Works
8.3.1 All tree works should be carried out to BS3998:2010 “Recommendations for Tree Work”.
8.3.2 The client’s attention is drawn to the responsibilities under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the legal requirement to consider nesting birds and bats when carrying out tree works.
8.4 Trees Subject to Statutory Controls
8.4.1 If any trees are covered by a tree preservation order or located in a conservation area, it will be necessary to consult with the local planning authority before any works can be carried out (other than statutory exemptions).
8.5 Limitations
8.5.1 This report has been prepared for use by the client in accordance with the terms of the contract. Third parties may not rely on the information within this report without the written consent of Islington Tree Service.
8.5.2 Information provided by the client or third parties used in the preparation of this report has not been verified by Islington Tree Service and is assumed to be correct.
8.5.3 The tree survey is valid for one year from the date of inspection but will become invalid if unforeseeable events or physical changes are made to the site. Extreme weather, construction or development including tree works or disturbance to the soil volume utilised by the tree will require partial or full re-survey. It is recommended that the trees are routinely inspected.
8.6 Distribution
8.6.1 This report is for the sole use of the above named client and refers to only those trees identified within; use by any other person(s) in attempting to apply its contents for any other purpose renders the report invalid for that purpose.
8.6.2 The Schedule of worksincluded in the appendices may be provided to tree contractors for the benefit of obtaining a quote for the works and used in the application to the LPA in order to obtain the relevant permission.
8.7 Copyright
8.7.1 Islington Council retains the copyright of this report and it content is for the sole use of the client(s) named above. Copying of this document may only be undertaken in connection with the above instruction. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the document without written consent from Islington Council is forbidden.
Islington Tree Service, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected]
Page 96 Trees\TreeManagement\Clients\EPPFOR\WGReport 18
8.8 References British Standards Institute (BSI). (2010). BS 3998:2010 Recommendations for Tree Work. BSI, London.
Tree Preservation Order, A Guide to the Law and Good Practice. Department for Communities and Local Government.
Lonsdale D. (1999). Research for amenity Trees No.7: Principles of Tree Hazard Assessment and Management. HMSO, London.
Mattheck and Breloer H. (1994). HMSO, London. Research for Amenity Trees No.4: The Body Language of Trees.
Islington Tree Service, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected]
Page 97 Trees\TreeManagement\Clients\EPPFOR\WGReport 19
9 Site Plan with Tree Locations (as plotted on Arbortrack software system)
Islington Tree Service, 1 Cottage Road, London, N7 8TP Email: [email protected]
Page 98 Trees\TreeManagement\Clients\EPPFOR\WGReport Agenda Item 9
Committee(s) Dated: Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018 Subject: Public The Woodford Green Chestnut Avenue: Future Management Proposals (SEF 29/18) Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report author: Geoff Sinclair, Head of Operations, Epping Forest
Summary
This report, which represents a companion to the report on the Jubilee Avenue also before your Committee, advises on the deteriorating condition of the Woodford Green Horse Chestnut Avenue. The 191 Chestnut tree avenue first planted by the Urban District Council, a forerunner to the London Borough of Redbridge, around 1900, forms an important and much-loved townscape feature of Woodford Green and Woodford Wells and is a recognised component of both Conservation Areas.
Only 64% of the original planting now survives, with 40 (21%) trees missing as avenue gaps and 25 (13%) trees replanted as young 10 to 20-year old trees which are struggling to flourish in the shade of the Avenue. Recent mature tree losses have been attributed to Bleeding Canker Disease of Horse Chestnut and possibly a reduction in vitality from damage by a new Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) - the Chestnut Leaf Miner Moth.
The report proposes a collaborative project with the London Borough of Redbridge, who is responsible for the maintenance of the Avenue and whose Conservation Area Appraisals indicate the need to act. Further work is needed to raise public awareness over the plight of the Chestnuts, together with public consultation to initiate a discussion on potential replanting options for existing gaps and likely future tree failures.
Recommendations
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support:
The joint commission with the London Borough of Redbridge of an Arboricultural Assessment of the Chestnut Avenue, considering options for the future management and possible replacement of the Avenue;
Public consultation, alongside similar engagement on the Jubilee London Plane Avenue, on preferred options for the future management of the Chestnut Avenue.
The inauguration of a sponsorship appeal in partnership with the London Borough of Redbridge to raise funds to meet the cost of replacement trees and their establishment.
Page 99 Main Report
Background
1. Land at Woodford Green was acquired by the City of London Corporation on 1 May 1882 and has been held in trust as part of Epping Forest. On acquisition the 39.5 acres (16ha) of greenspace were surrounded by open fields, which were subsequently subject to late Victorian and Edwardian residential development.
2. A distinctive landscape feature bordering and crossing Woodford Green is a network of tree avenues with two main north-south running tree avenues:
a. Woodford Green Chestnut Avenue – a 1.9km avenue of 191 remaining Horse Chestnut Trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) stretching between the Burlington Place junction with the High Road in the north to the Broomhill Walk A119/A104 junction to the south to Woodford Green.
b. The Jubilee Avenue – known locally as the ‘Churchill Avenue’ an avenue of 89 remaining London Plane (Platanus acerifolia) and hybrid Poplar (Populus spp) and running between the Broadmead Road (A1009) to the north and High Road (A1199) to the south.
3. Tree avenue planting has been a significant feature of British rural and urban landscapes. Avenues were first planted in the 16th century to provide shaded walks close to large houses. By the 17th century, more ambitious schemes crossing parks or forming an approach to a feature or vista became more common. Charles Bridgeman’s 1720 lime avenue at Stowe Landscape Park and more locally George London’s 1710 avenues at Wanstead Park are the culmination of the avenue planting fashion. Tree avenues remained a popular feature until the mid-nineteenth century, enjoying a brief revival in late Victorian period civic schemes to celebrate the Monarch’s jubilees and avenues of honour linked to military campaigns.
4. The second Superintendent of Epping Forest Lt Col Alexander Mackenzie acknowledged in contemporaneous correspondence in 1886 that proposals for tree avenue planting at Woodford Green originated from ‘influential petitions from the residents of Woodford’. The precise date of the Chestnut avenue planting is unclear from the City Corporation’s records, with various external sources placing the date between the ‘turn of the century’ to between the 1930-1940s. The 1912 Ordnance Survey map for Woodford Green clearly shows the planted avenue in place, which indicates a planting date prior to map survey (Appendix 1). The Avenue may well mark the coronation of Edward V11 in 1902, though this possibility will require additional research.
5. The 191 Chestnut tree avenue was first planted by the Urban District Council, a forerunner to the current London Borough of Redbridge. The London Borough of Redbridge continues to manage the safety, maintenance and replacement of the existing Chestnut Avenue.
Page 100 6. The Chestnut Avenue stretches for 1.9 km between the Woodford Green and Woodford Wells Conservation Areas jointly established in 1970 by the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest. The balance of the Avenue planting reflects the nature of the City Corporation’s landholding which is largely to the east of Woodford High Road. Some 118 trees are planted to the east, while just 73 trees are planted to the west.
7. The Conservation Area Enhancement Scheme adopted on 22nd April 1993 states that ‘The Horse Chestnut Avenues of Woodford Green and Woodford Wells form a significant townscape element of the High Road and the Conservations Areas (Woodford Green and Woodford Wells both designated in 1970). The avenues were created early this century and some investigation would be required to determine the best management policy to maintain and continue the consistency of the treescape of the avenues in the future’.
8. The London Borough of Redbridge 2007 publication ‘Woodford Green and Woodford Wells Conservation Areas – A Special Character Appraisal’ clearly acknowledges on page 29 at 3.5.3 The Lower Green that ‘The Council (the Woodford Urban District Council at that time) planted these chestnuts in the early twentieth century on behalf of local residents on Epping Forest land. The chestnuts are now coming to the end of their lives’.
Current Position
9. Horse Chestnut is considered to be a naturalised British tree species and should enjoy a lifespan of up to 350 years. Currently, after an estimated 110 years of growth, the original 191 Chestnut tree planting scheme, has been reduced to 123 (64%) trees planted at 32-foot (10 metre) intervals. Some 25 (13%) lost trees have been replaced by new plantings aged between 10 and 20 years old which are planted off-centre to avoid the original tree stump. These young trees are struggling to establish in the shade of the mature trees. Some 40 (21%) trees are missing and are yet to be replaced. A small number of missing trees – 3 (2%) - have been replaced by the natural regeneration of oak and sycamore.
10. Horse Chestnuts are generally considered to cope well when planted in the urban context and are usually relatively unaffected by urban levels of air pollution and compaction from the proximity of pavements and the High Road. However, the Chestnuts at Woodford Green are now under additional pressure from a non- native moth and a new bacterial tree disease.
11. The Horse chestnut leaf miner moth (Cameraria ohridella) is an Invasive Non- Native Species (INNS) insect pest which lives in horse chestnut trees. Horse chestnut leaf miner was first observed in Macedonia, in northern Greece, in 1985, and was described as a new species in 1986. In 1989, it appeared unexpectedly in Austria, and since then it has spread throughout central and eastern Europe. It was first found in Great Britain in 2002, in the London Borough of Wimbledon. The moth’s caterpillars ‘mine’ or burrow through the Chestnut’s leaf cells removing on average 50% of each leaf’s photosynthetic capacity leaving brown blotches. Research has indicated that although leaf capacity is seriously reduced, leading to early browning of leaves in August and September, overall ring growth and therefore overall tree health is not affected.
Page 101 However, the long-term impact of this defoliation may make the trees more prone to other pests and diseases.
12. Bleeding canker is a new disease that affects Horse Chestnut trees. The disease was first reported in Britain in the 1970s, although it was recognised in the USA much earlier in the 1930s. Pre-2000, symptoms of the disease were associated with two Phytophthora pathogens. The causal agent is now most often due to a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv aesculi, and only very occasionally caused by Phytophthora. Today, the incidence of the disease within the UK has increased dramatically. In 2000, only four cases were reported, but this rose to more than 110 reports in 2006 and survey results show that in 2007 around half the horse chestnut trees in Britain showed some degree of symptoms. Several existing Horse Chestnut trees within the Avenue exhibit poor health which may be attributed to bleeding canker disease.
13. Surveys and research by the Forestry Commission reveal that where owners have replaced mature diseased trees with young horse chestnuts, some of the replanted trees have shown signs of infection within a few years. The Forestry Commission therefore does not recommend replanting with the same species.
14. Based on some small-scale surveys, both white (Aesculus hippocastanum) and red horse chestnuts (Aeculus x carnea) seem similarly affected by the disease. Japanese Horse Chestnut (Ausculus turbinate) can also develop the disease, but the Indian or Himalayan Horse Chestnut (Aesculus indica) may not be susceptible to the UK strain of bleeding canker disease.
Proposals
15. Three management options are outlined in this report:
Option 1: No action.
Option 2: Support the London Borough of Redbridge’s policy of continuing the replanting of Horse Chestnut where individual trees fail.
Option 3 - Commission an Arboricultural Assessment in partnership with the London Borough of Redbridge to explore practical alternatives prior to public consultation.
16. Option 1 No Action – Given the visual importance of the Chestnut Avenue and the London Borough of Redbridge obligations under the Health and Safety at Works Act, together with the City Corporation’s additional Occupiers Liability responsibilities this option is unrealistic. The option is not recommended.
17. Options 2 Replacement of lost trees with Horse Chestnut. Given the Forestry Commission’s concern that replacement plantings can be infected by Bleeding Canker disease, this option is unlikely to be viable in the longer term. This option is not recommended.
18. Option 3 Arboricultural Assessment -Given the marked decline in the Horse Chestnut Avenue at a relatively early stage in in the tree’s expected lifespan, together with the advent of a new disease that has already lead to the felling of
Page 102 trees in the Avenue a new approach to perpetuating the Avenue is required. An Arboricultural Assessment would inform your Committee of the potential available options in managing the Avenue both in the short and long-term. Following discussion by your Committee, the Assessment would also provide a suitable basis for public consultation. This Option is recommended.
Proposals
19. Because of the dominance of the Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Special Area of Conservation which favours the natural regeneration of native species Epping Forest does not have a species-based tree planting policy. However, where specific planting initiatives have been made at Gaunt Wood, the Trafalgar planting and most recently Gifford’s Wood, have been selected from the traditional Epping Forest ‘palette’ of Oak, Beech and Hornbeam. Beech is increasingly less favoured in new plantings over its concerns regarding climate change adaptation.
20. The Arboricultural Assessment will also need some careful thought to the aesthetics of Avenue design as canopy form and height relative to avenue width and length can determine the success of an avenue. The current harmonious relationship between tree height and road width across the Chestnut Avenue is a positive landscape attribute. Whereas, the tall character of the Jubilee Avenue and its narrow width are considered to be less successful.
21. Horse Chestnut as the existing main avenue tree species in the Woodford Green and Woodford Wells Conservation Areas may now need to be reconsidered because of its disease susceptibility. The selection of a new avenue Chestnut variety or tree species for the ‘Chestnut’ Avenue may in due course influence the species chosen to replace the remaining avenue trees within the Conservation area. Potential species appropriate for the location and which fit Epping Forest’s native woodland conservation perspective would include:
a. English Oak (Quercus robur)
b. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
22. To sustain the spring blossoming spectacle of the avenues a possible option could be to establish flowering cherry avenues, along the lines of some Asian countries. In time the mass flowering across the Woodford Wells and Woodford Green Conservation Area could become as distinctive and emblematic as the Horse Chestnut avenues today. Though relatively short-lived Cherry has the further advantage that it does not grow unduly large and is less of a tree safety concern requiring much less arboricultural intervention once established, although its shallow roots can pose an issue, e.g. in cracking up pavements.
Corporate & Strategic Implications
23. Legal – The Epping Forest Act 1878 under section 33(1)(i) provides the City Corporation with powers ‘To fell, cut, lop and manage in due course the timber and other trees, pollards and underwoods, and to sell and dispose of the timber cuttings and loppings, and to receive the proceeds, and to plant trees and shrubs
Page 103 for shelter or ornament’. In exercising powers in relation to planting the Conservators shall not do anything that would materially take away or hinder the exercise of rights of common (sub-section (2))
24. The avenue is within the Woodford Green and Woodford Wells Conservation Areas. Conservation Areas are areas of special architectural or historic interest, designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Consequently, tree management is subject to oversight by the London Borough of Redbridge as the Local Planning Authority, with six weeks prior notice required to be given to the Council of the proposed felling and other tree works. This enables the Local Planning Authority to decide if any of the trees should be made subject to a Tree Preservation Order. Those carrying out works to trees should ensure they do not contravene laws protecting wildlife and must have a regard to statutory obligations concerning protected species.
25. Financial – The cost of replanting the Chestnut Avenue is estimated at a minimum of £40,000 spread over ten or more years. There is a considerable potential to secure local sponsorship of the planted trees otherwise operational costs would need to be met by the London Borough of Redbridge.
26. Communications: Previous works at Woodford Green have attracted significant public comment and concern, as has the removal of Chestnut Avenues elsewhere in London. Prior to any works commencing extensive liaison with local stakeholders, including the local planning authority, should be undertaken to identify and address issues of concern.
Conclusion
27. Almost 40% of the existing 110-year old Chestnut Plantings within the Woodford High Road Avenue have been lost. A further number of trees are not in good health and are liable to succumb to a combination of stress pressures on urban street trees and Bleeding Canker of Horse Chestnut Disease. The current Chestnut replanting programme managed by the London Borough of Redbridge is likely to be overtaken by Bleeding Canker Disease,
28. A well-informed approach to replacing the avenue is needed to recognise the value to both Epping Forest and the Woodford Green and Woodford Wells Conservation Areas. There is little public awareness of the current plight of the Avenue and sensitive public consultation will be required to explore new planting options for the remainder of the century.
Appendices
Appendix 1 - 1912 Ordnance Survey Map of Woodford Green showing the newly planted avenue.
Page 104 Background Papers
Price, Colin (2009), Epping Forest Avenues Report
Geoff Sinclair Head of Operations T: 020 532 1010 E: [email protected] & [email protected]
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Page 106 Appendix 1 – 1912 OS Map of Woodford Green
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Page 108 Woodford Green: Tree Avenues
Aerial Photography 2013
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Page 110 Agenda Item 10
Committee(s) Dated:
Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018
Subject: Public Wanstead & Manor Flats Scrub Management Strategy (SEF 26/18)
Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report author: Geoff Sinclair, Head of Operations, Epping Forest
Summary
Scrub forms an important part of the biodiversity heritage at Wanstead Flats. It also adds to the considerable aesthetic appeal of the Flats for visitors. There are however several substantial problems associated with scrub facilitating an environment where various forms of anti-social behaviour can be manifested.
To strike an important balance between both the biodiversity and landscape value of scrub, alongside the need to actively manage rough sleeping and persistent anti- social behaviour a revised management regime for the scrub on Wanstead Flats is proposed.
This report outlines a review of the scrub management issues on the Flats and presents a changed scrub management strategy for this very important biodiversity resource.
Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support:
The introduction of a revised scrub management strategy for Wanstead and Manor Flats.
Page 111 Main Report
Background
1. Wanstead and Manor Flats together comprise 449.7 acres (182 ha) of open heath and grasland at the southern-most part of Epping Forest. Historically the Flats were a grassy heathland, used by local commoners and drovers en- route to London’s markets, for livestock grazing and it is likely that there has been grassland or heathland habitat here for over a thousand years. Today the area is made up of an intricate mix of recreational/sport grassland (including 50 football pitches), copse, scrub, acid grassland and ponds.
2. Scrub forms an important part of the biodiversity heritage at Wanstead Flats. It also adds to the considerable aesthetic appeal of the Flats for visitors. There are however several substantial problems associated with scrub facilitating anti-social behaviour.
3. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Report 308 ‘The Nature Conservation Value of Scrub in Britain’ (Mortimer et al 2000) describes scrub as ‘including all stages from the scattered bushes to closed canopy vegetation, dominated by locally native or non-native shrubs and tree saplings, usually less than 5 m tall, occasionally with a few scattered trees. This includes carr, scrub in the uplands and lowlands (including wood edge habitats), montane scrub and coastal scrub’.
4. To help manage persistent Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) a revised management regime for the scrub on the Flats has been developed. This report outlines a Forest Operations Plan Development Note that reviews the scrub management issues on the Flats and presents a changed scrub management strategy for this very important biodiversity resource.
Current Position
5. The cessation of grazing on Wanstead Flats following the Bovine Spongiform Encepthalopy (BSE) outbreak of 1996, led to an expansion of the area and density of scrub across the Flats. These new and expanding scrub habitats became an important habitat benefiting a number of key species. Heathland and grassland habitats have however been changed as a consequence of expanding scrub on them.
6. There are six different scrub management areas on the Flats with varying objectives and history of activity. Overall, management has largely concentrated on controling the spread of scrub and promoting a more diverse structure of retained scrub. A large part of the scrub management is funded under the Countryside Stewardship’s Entry Level Scheme (ELS) and Higher Level Scheme (HLS).
7. A number of areas have however been cleared of scrub and cut at least annually to maintain them in a cleared condition to deter anti-social behaviour,
Page 112 notably towards Sidney Road and around Jubilee Pond (Scrub management area 9) and elm scrub along Capel Road (Scrub management area 10) . To help restore the acid grassland communities scrub has been permanently cleared with any regrowth cut annually on the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) area of Wanstead Flats.
8. In assessing the management of scrub on the Flats the review considered six broad areas:
a. The impact of scrub on the biodiversity of the Flats: Scrub on the Flats is extremely valuable for birds and invertebrates and is of enormous value as a breeding habitat and for during the migration period when the scrub provides shelter and food in the form of berries and invertebrates
b. The impact of scrub on the landscape of the Flats: The scrub habitats play an important role in softening and screening the surrounding urban area in what could otherwise be an open and potentially ‘bleak’ landscape.
c. The impact of scrub on visitors to Wanstead Flats: Overall the mosaic of scrub habitats provides visitors with a naturally compartmentalized ever changing landscape and uplifting wildlife experience for the many visitors.
d. Fire Management: Gorse and Broom Scrub is particularly susceptible to the risk of fires during the dry summer months. Fires whether accidentally or deliberately set can present a clear danger to public safety and can damage the conservation value of the Flats. Liaison with the London Fire Brigade has emphasised the importance of compartmentalising scrub areas and reducing the ‘ladder effect’ of scrub introducing fire to large trees.
e. Rough Sleeping: Though the City Corporation does not define rough sleeping as ASB the presence of scrub actively provides cover for the growing social tragedy of rough sleeping.
f. Anti-Social Behaviour: There are also significant negative aspects associated with the presence of scrub on Wanstead Flats. The ‘screening effect’ lent by dense scrub facilitates a range of ASB including drug taking; public sex acts; prostitution; fire setting and fly tipping.
Page 113 Options
9. It is considered that the increasing area of scrub on Wanstead Flats is adversely impacting the grassland habitats, and as more areas of scrub mature towards woodland it is also declining in its habitat quality. The location of scrub communities is also having a deleterious impact on the public usage of the Flats.
10.The Forest Operations Plan Development Note considered three scrub management options in its review:
a. No action: Unmanaged scrub will quickly colonise the Flats and result in the loss of valuable grassland and heathland habitats. It would also do nothing to address the antisocial behaviour problems being faced;
b. Maintain current conservation management: The current conservation management program has resulted in restoring previously declining habitats and helped with biodiversity protecting. It has also had some impact on antisocial behaviour issues.
c. Revised management emphasis: Increased emphasis on tackling antisocial behaviour issues at the same time as seeking to optimise conservation benefits. This proposal seeks to identify low value conservation scrub areas and to manage these more for antisocial behaviour issues. Other scrub areas will have conservation priority. This option seeks to achieve a wider range of management needs than previously and is recommended.
11.The Forest Operations Plan Development Note indentified three scrub management strategies as relevant to managing scrub at Wanstead Flats: a. reduction in the proportion of scrub on an area; b. maintenance of scrub in a favourable condition and; c. the eradication of scrub across specific areas.
12.It is proposed that appropriate works will be identified and built into annual work programs for the Forest and included as part of the Annual work program package presented to the Epping forest and Commons Committee each year for decision.
Proposals
13.Scrub management works at Wanstead Flats will be modified to widen their objective to include active management of antisocial behaviour issues as well as maintaining conservation management objectives. Work proposals arising from this change will be presented as part of the annual work program report.
Page 114 Corporate & Strategic Implications
14.Open Spaces Department Business Plan - The proposals follow from three of the Open Spaces Department’s Strategic aims of: providing high quality accessible open spaces, involving communities in site management and adopting sustainable working practices.
15.Epping Forest Management Plan - The proposals match several the Epping Forest Vision for the 21st Century’s key visions including:
Epping Forest’s position as a unique and ancient landscape for people and wildlife will be strengthened;
The Forest will retain its natural aspect with the diversity of wildlife habitats enhanced and the features of international importance protected.
Epping Forest will be highly valued as part of a larger and fully accessible protected landscape area.
Implications
16. Financial: The work outlined in the proposed work programme is to be covered by the local risk budget of Epping Forest Division supplemented by grant aid from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Additional grant aid will be sought where available to fund agreed activity.
17.Legal – Under section 7(3) of the Epping Forest Act 1878 the Conservators shall at all times as far as possible preserve the natural aspect of the Forest, and shall protect the timber and other trees, pollards, shrubs, underwood, heather, gorse, turf, and herbage growing on the Forest.
18.Under section 5(1) of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Act 2018 the Conservators may, if it appears necessary or expedient for the proper management or husbandry of the Forest and its flora and fauna, undertake the cutting, felling, lopping, chipping, mulching, swaling, cultivation or collection of any trees, pollards, gorse, heather, turf, grass or other shrubs, crops or herbage.
19.Formal consent for these works has been sought from Natural England under section 28E of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(as amended) for the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and as required under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 in relation to the Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Page 115 Health Implications
20.The works contribute towards local strategies to actively manage rough sleeping and discourage ASB issues such as drug taking, prostitution, fire setting and fly tipping and their associated health risks.
Conclusion
21.Increasing concern over anti-social behaviour problems at Wanstead Flats has led to a review of scrub management on the Flats.
22.It is proposed that scrub management on the Flats be modified to strike a more effective balance between conservation management and the need to tackle persistent ASB challenges.
23.The revised management works will be reported on annually a as part of the Work program reporting to the EFCC.
Appendices
Appendix 1 – Forest Operations Note: Wanstead Flats Scrub Management
Geoff Sinclair Head of Operations, Epping Forest, Open Spaces Department
T: 020 8532 5301 E: [email protected]
Page 116 WANSTEAD FLATS SCRUB MANAGEMEN T
12/2/2018 Forest Operations Plan Development Note
Scrub forms an important part of the biodiversity heritage at Wanstead Flats. It also adds to the considerable aesthetic appeal of the Flats for visitors. There are however a number of substantial problems associate with scrub facilitating anti-social behavior. This note sets these issues in context and suggests a management strategy and outline activity Page 117 Wanstead Flats Scrub Management
program to be taken forward to the Forest Operations Plan
Wanstead Flats Scrub Management
FOREST OPERATIONS PLAN DEVELOPMENT NOTE
INTRODUCTION
Wanstead Flats (182ha) is the southern-most part of Epping Forest and is situated within an extensive residential area but shares borders with the City of London Cemetery and the Wanstead Golf course. The flats are bissected by four major roads: Bush Road (A114), Centre Road (A114), Forest Drive (A117) and Lake House Road. It is one of the most visited parts of Epping Forest with some 395 263 or 9.7% of the Forest’s visitors each year. It is one of the best recorded areas for wildlife in Epping Forest with considerable work undertaken by volunteers from the local Wren Group.
Historically the Flats were a grassy heathland used by local commoners, and drovers en-route to London’s markets, for livestock grazing and it is likely that there has been grassland or heathland habitat here for over a thousand years. Today the area is made up of an intricate mix of recreational/sport grassland (including 50 football pitches), copse, scrub, acid grassland and ponds. It is designated as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for its conservation value to London and part of the acid grassland is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it is also one of the few breeding sites for Skylarks in London. Bush Wood, Bush Wood North and Bush Wood Flats are included within the Wanstead Park designation of Historic Parks and Gardens.
The cessation of grazing circa 20 years ago on the grassland, following the BSE outbreak of 1996, led to an expansion of the area and density of scrub across the Flats. These new and expanding scrub habitats are an important habitat benefiting a number of key species. however heathland and grassland habitats have been changed as a consequence of expanding scrub on them. A scrub management program for conservation has been underway for nearly ten years with funding under Countryside Stewardship’s Entry Level Scheme (ELS) and Higher Level Scheme (HLS).
A number of scrub areas have also become a focal point for significant antisocial behaviour, such as Class A drug taking, prostitution and rough sleeping. Sustained requests by colleagues managing persistent antisocial behaviour to clear increasing areas of scrub has necessitated a review of scrub management to assess the balance of priorities for managing what is also a very important biodiversity resource.
Page 1 Page 118 Wanstead Flats Scrub Management This Forest Operations Plan Development Note draws together the scrub management issues on Wanstead Flats and outlines a management strategy. An action plan is given which will form part of the Epping Forest Operations plan currently being developed.
Page 2 Page 119 Wanstead Flats Scrub Management SCRUB DESCRIPTION
Composition
Three general landscape categories of scrub are present on Wanstead Flats and are listed in Table 1 along with a general description of their species composition. In addition, the Sprawling and diminutive ‘tree’, Creeping Willow (Salix repens) still survives on Wanstead Flats. It is a remnant of when the Flats were wetter and more heathy, but is now restricted to only a few locations on the Flats and is scarce in London generally.
Table 1: Landscape Scrub Communities on Wanstead Flats
Scrub Category Description
Seral Scrub An intermediate ecological succesional stage where scrub is colonising grass and heathland habitats. Largely comprised of individual plants and groups spread across the area. On the Flats it is composed of three plant communities:
W21- Cratageus monogyna- Hedera Helix scrub W23 – Ulex Europaeus- Rubus Fruticosus agg Ulmus spp
Linear Roadside A typically narrow strip of woody scrub vegetation along the boundary of the Flats. Comprised of a mix of scrub species but with Ulmus/Crataegus sps dominant with Prunus sps and Sambucus nigra.
Copse Edge and understorey scrub communities often associated with 19th/Early 20th Century tree plantings across the Flats designed to break up the open character of the area. Comprised of a mix of native scrub species, stump regrowth and young trees.
Current Management
There are six different scrub management areas on the Flats with varying objectives and history of activity which are outlined in Table 2. Overall, management has largely concentrated on controling the spread of scrub and promoting a more diverse structure of retained scrub. Scrub management areas (SMA) 1, 2 , 4, 5 and 6 are subject to HLS funding under:
HC16: Restoration of successional areas of scrub - where by year 10, shrub species such as hawthorn, blackthorn and willow should have a diverse age and height structure. No more than 50% of the scrub area should be mature or over mature.
HK16: Restoratation of grassland for target features. This relates to grassland management but as scrub removal and management is required to help restore the grassland the scrub is dealt with under Stewardship.
A number of areas have however been cleared of scrub and cut at least annually to maintain them in a cleared condition to deter anti-social behaviour, notably towards Sidney Road and around Jubilee Pond (Scrub management area 9) and elm scrub along Capel Road (Scrub management area 10) . To help restore the acid grassland communities scrub has been permanently cleared with any regrowth cut annually on the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) area of Wanstead Flats.
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SMA Dominant Conservation Importance ASB Importance Current Scrub Scrub Management Category
1 W21-Seral High Breeding birds, green hairstreak butterfly, Reduction: Mechanical scrub broom-tip moth, heather, acid grassland cut and collect/manual (volunteer) cutting
2 W21-Seral Med- Breeding birds, invertebrates including: Maintenance: scrub High green hairstreak butterfly, broom-tip moth, Mechanical cut and leave heather, acid grassland
3 Copse Low- Breeding birds, invertebrates and Green None Med Hairstreak. Copse edge scrub especially important particularly on the southern side
4 Copse Med Breeding birds, invertebrates and Green None Hairstreak. Copse edge scrub especially important particularly on the southern side
5 W21-Seral High Breeding/migratory birds, green hairstreak, None scrub invertebrates and acid grassland.
6 W23-Seral Med- Breeding/migratory birds, green hairstreak Reduction: Mechanical scrub High butterfly, invertebrates and Broom-tip cut and collect moth. Primary importance of the area is the ground nesting birds (Skylark and Meadow Pipit)
7 W21-Seral Med- For breeding birds Rough sleeping, Drug None scrub High use
8 W21-Seral Low For breeding birds Rough sleeping, Drug None scrub use.Prostitution
9 Copse Low For breeding birds Rough sleeping, Drug Eradication: use Clearedunderstory to deter rough sleeping and cut annually
10 Ulmus spp Low For breeding birds Drug use especially Eradication: Cleared frequent. due to high use by drug users.
11 Linear Roadside Low For breeding birds Drug use especially None scrub frequent. Prostitution
12 Linear Roadside Low For breeding birds Rough sleeping Eradication: Cleared to scrub deter rough sleeping and cut annually
13 Linear Roadside Low For breeding birds Rough sleeping, Drug Reduction: Increase scrub use, Assault visibility of the pedestrian path through scrub removal. Retain individuals and clumps of hawthorns
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MANAGEMENT ISSUES
When considering the management of scrub on Wanstead Flats there are three broad areas for review:
The impact of scrub on the biodiversity of the Flats The impact of scrub on the landscape of the Flats The impact of scrub on vistors to Wanstead Flats
Biodiversity Value of Scrub at Wanstead Flats
Appendix One details the biodiveristy value of the Scrub at Wanstead Flats. In summary, based on biodiversity data collected from Wanstead Flats by members of the WREN group and other individuals, the scrub habitat of the Flats has been shown to be extremely valuable for birds and invertebrates. The scrub is of enormous value as a breeding habitat and for during the migration period, particularly autumn/winter migration, when the Flat’s scrub provides shelter and food in the form of berries and invertebrates.
Birds of Conservation Concern (UK Red List) utilising the scrub habitats of Wanstead Flats for breeding or during migration include 10 Red and 5 Amber listed species. For invertebrates scrub is important as a food source (nectar, dead wood, leaves, honeydew, other insects) , and for breeding and shelter. For many early flying insects, hawthorn and blackthorn are perhaps the most important scrub species for their early sources of nectar. Other shrubs with important nectar sources include gorse, broom and bramble. Notable invertebrates found at Wanstead Flats requiring scrub habitat as part of their life cycle include:
Green hairstreak butterfly : Wanstead Flats is the only locality within Epping Forest for this species;
Broom-tip moth: This is a UK BAP species with broom (Cytisus scoparia) being its larval foodplant;
Philodromus rufus (spider): A rare spider with very few UK locations. Only site within Epping Forest.
Landscape Value of scrub at Wanstead Flats
Scrub is likely to have been an established feature of the landscape at Wanstead Flats for some centuries, with records of it being a grazed landscape stretching back to 11991. For much of its history the Flats were wetter and marshier than today with the land drained, leveled and sown with grass in 1886 by the City of London Corporation. Such change, along with a number of different tree planting episodes, will have introduced changes to composition and extent of the scrub communities over time. It is likely that during periods of frequent use for grazing the prevalence of scrub was relatively low and that given the nature of natural resource use at these times was probably regularly cut back to supply fuel. Appendix one gives a series of aerial photographs that illustrates one period of change with an increase in scrub abundance since 1987 when grazing by livestock ceased.
1 Monks of Stratford were granted the right to graze sheep on the “brurerio” (heath) between Ham Firth and Welcomstow (Wanstead and Leyton). Quoted from the ‘An Integrated Site Management Plan for Wanstead Flats, Epping Forest, 2006- 2011
Page 6 Page 123 Wanstead Flats Scrub Management In landscape terms the scrub habitats on the Flats play an important role in softening and screening the surrounding urban area in what could otherwise be an open and potentially ‘bleak’ landscape. The impact of traffic on Centre Road, Forest Drive, Aldersbrook Road and Lakehouse Roads on visitors and wildlife is considerably lessened through scrub fringes and the occasional clumps of scrub.
Page 7 Page 124 Wanstead Flats Scrub Management Social Value of Scrub at Wanstead Flats
Overall the mosaic of scrub habitats provides visitors with a naturally compartmentalized ever changing landscape of colourful displays of blossom, foliage, fruit and smells for visitors. As the habitat of preference for many species of songbirds it also provides an important and uplifting wildlife experience for the many visitors to the Flat who befit knowingly or unknowingly.
As well as the positive social benefits there are also significant negative aspects of the scrub on Wanstead Flats. The screening effect of the scrub facilities anti-social behavior with drug taking and prostitution frequent in a number of areas and the Flats are one our most notorious areas for fly-tipping. Anecdotally rough sleeping has increased across the Flats with the London Borough of Redbridge being 8th in the UK for rough sleepers with a 25 % increase reported on 2015 numbers in January 2017. Mulching works to clear gorse on the Flats in the Spring of 2017 highlighted many previously unknown camps situated deep within what had been thought of as ‘impenetrable’ gorse scrub! While evidence of unauthorized activity is across the Flats the most serious activity of regular prostitution and drug taking seems to be around Manor Flats up to Alexandra Lake.
As well as being distressing for visitors who come across participants in such unauthorized activities they also present a number of significant health concerns for staff, visitors and the participants themselves. Particular issues of concern area:
Infected needles: A number of locations on the Flats are regularly used by Class A drug users injecting their drugs with the used needles being left behind on the ground. These pose a risk to visitors and staff, litter picking staff and volunteers in particular, from accidental skin punctures following contact with a needle.
Excrement: A further health issue for visitors, staff and volunteers following from a side effect of drug taking is that users often need to excrete following taking their substance. In well used scrub drug haunts we find local concentrations of human excrement.
In addition to these concerns there are also the very substantial worries for the often vulnerable people participating in the activities. Keeper staff have increasingly been working with the Police, Homeless Charities, Immigration service and others to help direct rough sleepers and other vulnerable people to more appropriate venues and sources of help.
SCRUB MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
It is considered that the increasing area of scrub on Wanstead Flats is adversely impacting the grassland habitats, As more areas of scrub mature towards woodland it is also declining in its habitat quality. The location of scrub communities is also having a deleterious impact on the public usage of the Flats.
Overall objectives for managing scrub habitats on Wanstead Flats are as follows:
1. To improve conservation grassland habitat quality through reducing the area of scrub to a maximum of 25% of the grassland habitat area; 2. To maintain retained scrub in a favourable condition; 3. To reduce opportunities for serious anti-social behavior problems through scrub management and eradication.
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OUTLINE SCRUB MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Objective SMA Action Timing (Years)
1 1,6 Reduction: Reduce the area of scrub to a maximum of 25% of the 1-5 Others? area by cutting the scrub and removing the arisings where possible or mulching if not feasible
2 1,2,4,5,6,7 Maintenance: Rotational cutting of scrub to maintain its habitat Ongoing Others quality for invertebrate species and breeding birds. No more than 50% of the scrub to mature or over-mature. Cut and remove arisings where possible or mulch if not feasible
3 11, 12, Eradication: Permanent clearance of scrub through cutting and 1-5 removing the cleared material with subsequent annual cutting.
3 9,10,11,12 Maintenance: Annual cutting to maintain scrub regrowth to a Ongoing maximum height of1m.
3 8, 13 Reduction: Remove all scrub other than Hawthorn. Cut and remove 1-5 arisings where possible or mulch if not feasible.
APPENDICES
1. Wanstead Flats Scrub Management, by Andy Froud
Geoff Sinclair
12/02/2018
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Page 128 Agenda Item 11
Committee(s): Date(s): Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018
Subject: Public Epping Forest Play Policy (SEF 31/18) Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report Author: Jacqueline Eggleston - Head of Visitor Services
Summary
Epping Forest provides valued green spaces for a range of communities often replacing Local Authority Open Space provision. Consequently, requests for formal Open Space facilities such as play areas on Epping Forest land to service these local communities are not infrequent. This report presents a Play Policy for Epping Forest which seeks to interpret the sometimes-contradictory intentions of the Epping Forest Acts and sets out a policy position that your committee will take in relation to future such requests.
Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support:
approval of the Play in Epping Forest Policy Statement attached as Appendix 1.
Main Report
Background 1. Epping Forest provides valued green space for many communities both within the Forest and adjacent to its boundaries. Some 1,055 acres of Waltham Forest’s entire Open Space is provided by Epping Forest, while Epping Forest provides some 830 acres of Redbridge Open Space. Adjacent Local Authorities such as Newham which have a high level of Open Space need also rely heavily on Epping Forest Open Space provision in the south of the Forest. 2. In some areas Epping Forest provides the only open space for some distance with a corresponding absence of Local Authority Open Space. The absence of Local Authority Open Space often coincides with a deficit of formal play facilities in these areas. Epping Forest Land can therefore be seen as the logical location for a play area provision by local proponents of such a facility.
Page 129 3. Significant adventurous play equipment has been part of Epping Forest’s role as an inland leisure resort prior to the Epping Forest Acts, including the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ Aerial ropeway on Chingford Plain. Children’s play equipment has been a feature of catering ‘Retreats’ on and adjacent to Forest Land since the inception of the Epping Forest Acts 1878 & 1880. In the past your committee has approved the siting of formal or more naturalistic play areas on Epping Forest land in conjunction with the Local Authority which funded and continues to maintain the facility. These are: 3.1 Dames Road in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest (1985) 3.2 Lords Bushes in partnership with Buckhurst Hill Parish Council (2001) 3.3 Leyton Flats in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest (2015)
4. Three further play areas are currently being campaigned for on Forest Land and there are other proposals which may be submitted soon. 4.1 Memorial Green, Wanstead 4.2 Wanstead Park 4.3 Woodford Green
Current Position 5. The Epping Forest Acts contain two potentially conflicting aims: 5.1 Section 7(1.) states that ‘Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Conservators shall at all times keep Epping Forest … as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the public’: 5.2 Section 7(3.) The Conservators shall at all times as far as is possible preserve the natural aspect of the Forest …’ 6. Neither term is defined or explained within the Acts. Hurd and Anderson (2001) believe that there is some consensus on the definition of recreation. Recreation is an activity that people engage in during their free time, that people enjoy, and that people recognize as having socially redeeming values. 7. Unlike leisure, recreation has a connotation of being morally acceptable not just to the individual but also to society, as a whole, and thus we program for those activities within that context. While recreation activities can take many forms, they must contribute to society in a way that society deems acceptable. This means that activities deemed socially acceptable for recreation can change over time. 8. The Prussian polymath and geographer Alexander van Humboldt (1769 – 1859) is credited with the first modern use of the term ‘natural aspect’ to define the unspoilt nature of natural or wilderness landscapes encountered on his travels. The phrase was quickly incorporated within the Romantic Movement’s lexicon of picturesque landscapes. By 1871, the expression was first used in legislation to define natural landscapes at Banstead and Wimbledon Commons, together with Hampstead Heath. By this time, the phrase recognised not only the natural
Page 130 character of these landscapes but also the activities of the commoners whose historic and thus ‘natural’ management defined them. 9. Unlike recreation, play has a more singular definition. Play is imaginative, intrinsically motivated, nonserious, freely chosen, and actively engaging. While most people see play as the domain of children, adults also play, although often their play is more entwined with rules and regulations, which calls into question how playful their play really is. On the other hand, children’s play is typified by spontaneity, joyfulness, and inhibition and is done not as a means to an end but for its inherent pleasure. 10. The recognised definition of play can be seen as a part of the broader understanding of the term recreation and public enjoyment defined within the Act. Similarly, the presence of the natural aspect can be seen as a key element of the desired recreational outcome of ‘re-creation’ or restoration. Participants believe that their recreation pursuits can help them to balance their lives and refresh themselves from their work as well as other mandated activities. 11. Unlike provision made under the Conservator’s powers for formal sporting facilities within the Act, there is no specific provision within the Epping Forest Act for formal arrangements for play areas, despite the introduction of children’s playgrounds 19 years earlier in Peel Park, Manchester. 12. The Play Policy attached as Appendix 1 sets out a position on play in Epping Forest which is designed to best reflect the position outlined in the Epping Forest Acts. It advocates the importance of play but suggests that play can be achieved through the natural landscape as well as with formal play facilities. 13. The Policy states that Epping Forest will not consider applications for formal built play facilities in anything other than the most exceptional circumstances and conforming to a range of defined requirements. 14. The Policy also shows how Epping Forest division will seek to promote other play opportunities within the Forest.
Options 15. Your Committee can consider two options:
15.1 Option 1 – To approve the Epping Forest Play Policy as attached at Appendix 1.This will provide a clear position to inform potential applications for play facilities in Epping Forest. This is recommended
15.2 Option 2 – Not to approve the Epping Forest Play Policy as presented in Appendices 1. This will leave the position on play facilities in Epping Forest unclear and open to unnecessary discussion and disappointment in cases where the facility will be rejected. This is not recommended
Page 131 Proposals
16. The Play Policy states that built formal play facilities in Epping Forest contradict the preservation of the ‘natural aspect’ and as such are not permitted under the Epping Forest Act 17. In rare circumstances an exception may be made, and the policy defines the minimum criteria a request must meet before being considered by your committee. 18. The policy also makes commitments to increase promotion of other natural play opportunities in the Forest.
Corporate & Strategic Implications 1. The Epping Forest Play Policy will help deliver one of the aims of the Corporate Plan 2018 – 2023, to:
Contribute to a flourishing society. 1. People are safe and feel safe 2. People enjoy good health and wellbeing 4. Communities are cohesive and have the facilities they need
2. The Policy will also deliver the Open Spaces Departmental Business Plan top line objectives: A. Open spaces and historic sites are thriving and accessible. B. Spaces enrich people’s lives. C. Business practices are responsible and sustainable.
Financial 19. Commitments to promote play opportunities through website and publications can be met within existing budgets. 20. Further play promotion will be subject to obtaining funding or through work in partnership. 21. Built play facilities must be funded and maintained by the local authority.
Environmental 22. Built formal play facilities will not be permitted other than in exceptional circumstances. Permission will only be granted once all statutory permissions are obtained and will only be considered in circumstances where the natural aspect is preserved.
Legal
23. Are contained within the body of the report.
Page 132 Reputational 24. The careful assessment of play facility requests through a clear and consistent policy approach should ensure fairness and equality of access. 25. A clear policy approach reduces the risk of adverse publicity as applications can be rejected at the earliest stage. Property 26. Await advice.
Conclusion 27. The City Corporation Epping Forest occasionally receives applications to site play equipment in the Forest. This policy framework creates a fair and transparent system for assessing these applications and holds a guiding principle that play equipment is not permitted other than in rare and exceptional circumstances.
Background Papers Hurd and Anderson the Recreation Professionals Handbook (2001)
Appendices Appendix 1 – Epping Forest Play Policy
Jacqueline Eggleston Head of Visitor Services
T: 020 8532 5315 E: [email protected]
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Page 134 Play in Epping Forest Policy Statement
Issue No. 1 Date 05 June 2018 Review date Author Paul Thomson Approved by EF &CC
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Policy: Play in Epping Forest Last Updated: 18.05.18(Agreed at Epping Forest and Commons Committee July 2018 Page 1 Page 135 Contents Aims ...... 3 Background...... 3 Policy Statement...... 4 Scope...... 4
Policy: Play in Epping Forest Last Updated: 18.05.18(Agreed at Epping Forest and Commons Committee July 2018 Page 2 Page 136 Aims
1. This policy statement provides guidance for applicants for purpose-built play facilities on Epping Forest land and guiding principles for the promotion of play in Epping Forest.
Background
2. The right to play is set out in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UK Government in December 1991, and in the UK five outcomes for all children’s services defined in Every Child Matters: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving economic well-being. 3. Research shows that play has many benefits for children, families and the wider community, as well as improving health and quality of life. Recent research suggests that children’s access to good play provision can: increase their self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-respect improve and maintain their physical and mental health give them the opportunity to mix with other children allow them to increase their confidence through developing new skills promote their imagination, independence and creativity offer opportunities for children of all abilities and backgrounds to play together provide opportunities for developing social skills and learning build resilience through risk taking and challenge, problem solving, and dealing with new and novel situations provide opportunities to learn about their environment and the wider community. Play helps a child to develop – an environment that encourages healthy lifestyles, safe stimulating, access to nature, prevention of health problems such as obesity, mental wellbeing.i 4. The Mayor of London’s London Plan shapes a London wide approach to play: The Mayor and appropriate organisations should ensure that all children and young people should have safe access to good quality, well- designed, secure and stimulating play and informal recreation provision, incorporating trees and greenery wherever possible. ii 5. The City of London Corporation Open Spaces department recognises its role in contributing to spaces for play in London and provides children’s play equipment at its formal parks at Highgate Wood; Queens Park and West Ham Park, in addition to the Parliament Hill Playground at Hampstead Heath.
Policy: Play in Epping Forest Last Updated: 18.05.18(Agreed at Epping Forest and Commons Committee July 2018 Page 3 Page 137 Policy Statement
6. Under the terms of the Epping Forest Acts 1878 and 1880, the City Corporation as the Conservators of Epping Forest have responsibilities to maintain the Forest as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the public while maintaining the natural aspect of the Forest. In addition, around two thirds of the Forest is SSSI and SAC which provides further protection for the unspoilt, unbuilt on nature of the Forest. 7. Epping Forest provides a vital green space for at least a dozen small towns and parishes that it borders. In some cases it is the only nearby open space and is seen as a possible location for formal play equipment. 8. Such formal play equipment is seen as an urban intrusion on the ‘natural aspect’ of the Forest and as such it is not permitted in accordance with the Epping Forest Act 1878. 9. In Epping Forest we encourage children to play and explore this wild space on their doorstep and to use the natural landscape as an ever changing and stimulating play space. 10. The City of London Open Spaces Department seeks to create inclusive play opportunities which inspire children to connect with green spaces. Epping Forest supports the following Play Outcomes: Children are free to play, explore, be imaginative and take part in fun and enjoyable experiences Children feel safe, confident and empowered to learn Children begin to connect with green spaces
11. To help children and adults engage with the natural play opportunities provided throughout Epping Forest we will: In selected locations with low fire risk we will Leave suitable branches and logs in the Forest after lopping to provide material for den building Provide fallen trees in suitable locations for climbing Provide articles and information on our website and publications suggesting ideas for play in the Forest such as; den building, climbing, finding and collecting, making stories, playing with texture (sand, bark, mossy places), paddling in streams, making natural collages etc. Support local authority and other partners with provision of playworkers and similar opportunities (such as Epping Forest District Council’s Play in the Forest scheme). Develop informal play trails and seek funding for play opportunities through the Open Spaces learning team and other partners.
Policy: Play in Epping Forest Last Updated: 18.05.18(Agreed at Epping Forest and Commons Committee July 2018 Page 4 Page 138 Scope
12. Formal play provision remains the duty of the local authority and the City Corporation in Epping Forest does not have a duty to provide land for this. In most cases such formal provision will be contrary to the terms of the Epping Forest Act 1878. 13. The Epping Forest and Commons Committee has specifically consented to children’s play areas in the past. These approvals have been provided at: Dames Road in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest (1985) Lords Bushes in partnership with Buckhurst Hill Parish Council (2001) Leyton Flats in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest (2015) 14. These permissions have been given as an exception to the policy of not permitting formal play facilities because a range of criteria has been met. 15. Such exceptions can only be considered by the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee once the following requirements have been met: proven absence of suitable nearby Local Authority Open Space capable of hosting constructed children’s play latent demand identified in the relevant Local Plan; Neighbourhood Plan or Local Authority Open Spaces or Play Strategies. Public Consultation has been completed with the local community Proof of sufficient Local Authority or local community capital funding to meet the full costs of constructing a built natural play facility Agreement of Heads of Terms for a Licence to occupy Forest Land with the Local Authority which addresses the funding, insurance; inspection; litter clearance; equipment maintenance and scheduled replacement of play equipment and play surfaces and process and timescale for decommissioning the relevant consents have been secured under o the General Permitted Development Order; o Town & Country Planning Acts o consent regimes associated with Site of Special Scientific Interest status (where relevant). o consent regimes associated with Registered Parks and Gardens (where relevant) o consent regimes associated with Conservation Area status (where relevant). 16. Further to these requirements the only play equipment that may be considered will be ‘natural play’ facilities in keeping with and landscaped according to the surroundings.
Policy: Play in Epping Forest Last Updated: 18.05.18(Agreed at Epping Forest and Commons Committee July 2018 Page 5 Page 139 17. It is not anticipated that further exceptions will be made in the Forest other than where there is an existing built footprint.
i Play England ii Supplementary Planning Guidance 3.6
Policy: Play in Epping Forest Last Updated: 18.05.18(Agreed at Epping Forest and Commons Committee July 2018 Page 6 Page 140 Agenda Item 12
Committee(s) Dated:
Epping Forest Consultative 13 06 2018 Epping Forest and Commons 09 07 2018 Subject: Public Proposal for a play area at Wanstead Park (SEF 30/18) Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report author: Jacqueline Eggleston, Head of Visitor Services, Geoff Sinclair, Head of Operations
Summary
This report presents the exceptional case for the construction of a natural play area on Forest Land at Wanstead Park. Local authority play policy has previously identified a lack of play provision in the Ward, together with a lack of suitable Local Authority Public Open Space on which a play facility could be sited. The formal parkland setting of Wanstead Park could also be considered more appropriate to the setting of a children’s play area.
The play area would be funded and maintained by the London Borough of Redbridge under a licence agreement. The play area would complement proposals for an improved visitor offer around the Temple and meet long standing community desires for a play area in the vicinity.
Your committee is requested to offer in principle support for the proposal so that funding and planning permission can be sought.
Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support:
The request for officers and local stakeholders undertake the work to prepare a detailed proposal for a play area at Wanstead Park for submission to them for consideration for full consent.
Main Report
Background
1. Under the terms of the Epping Forest Acts 1878 and 1880, the City Corporation as the Conservators of Epping Forest have responsibilities to maintain the Forest ‘as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the public’ while ‘preserving as far as is possible the natural aspect of the Forest as far as possible’.
Page 141 2. The City Corporation’s policy position on children’s play at Epping Forest remains that children’s play is best achieved through a strong engagement with the natural world through climbing on fallen trees, building shelters; jumping in brooks and puddles and engaging with the Forest’s wealth of wildlife. 3. The City Corporation at Epping Forest will not seek to substitute for the Local Authority responsibility to provide formal play equipment, which is felt to generally be an urban intrusion upon the ‘natural aspect’ of the Forest. 4. However, children’s play equipment has been a feature of catering ‘Retreats’ on and adjacent to Forest Land since the inception of the Epping Forest Acts 1878 & 1880. More recently the Epping Forest and Commons Committee has specifically consented children’s play areas where there is an absence of suitable Local Authority Open Space to perform this function Approvals have been provided at: Dames Road in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest (1985) Lords Bushes in partnership with Buckhurst Hill Parish Council (2001) Leyton Flats in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest (2015) 5. Your committee is being presented with a proposed Policy for Play in Epping Forest at this meeting. The Policy proposes that The City Corporation will not consider further built play facilities on Epping Forest other than in exceptional circumstances.
6. The proposals for a play facility in Wanstead Park meets these exceptional circumstances: There is a proven absence of suitable nearby Local Authority Open Space capable of hosting constructed children’s play. There is an absence of suitable Local Authority Public Open Space in the area where a children’s play facility could be constructed. An undertaking that the capital, maintenance and inspection costs will be met by the community and/or the London Borough of Redbridge. The relevant consents can be obtained once your committee has given approval to progress with the proposals
7. In 2003, the City Corporation was approached by the Aldersbrook Families Association and the London Borough of Redbridge to host a play area on Wanstead Flats. A public consultation on the proposals was held where initial community support was positive. However residents close to the proposed site raised concerns over potential anti-social behaviour in proximity to residential properties and road safety for children crossing Aldersbrook Road to reach the site.. In 2005 the Epping Forest and Commons Committee chose not to approve the proposal to host the play area. 8. The Aldersbrook area was identified in the London Borough of Redbridge’s Play Strategy for 2007-2012 as an area deficient in play provision. In 2015 local parents established The Aldersbrook Playground Campaign to renew action to improve play provision in the Aldersbrook area. Initial discussions between the
Page 142 Campaign and the City Corporation led to the establishment of simple log ‘play’ structures linked to seating improvements at the tea hut by the Heronry Pond in 2017. 9. On 22 November 2017 John Cryer MP organised a summit to discuss the development of Wanstead Park, with particular reference to the preparation of a long term Parkland Plan currently being undertaken by the City Corporation. An important aspect of the forthcoming plan will be proposals to develop the income generation opportunities in the park to help fund future management. 10.One possible income generation proposal is to develop a visitor hub at The Temple with a much-enhanced catering offer, such as along the lines of Butlers Retreat at the Queen Elizabeth hunting Lodge, Chingford. A play area of some form is to be proposed in the draft Parkland Plan as part of the Temple visitor hub proposal for Wanstead Park. 11.The Parkland plan is nearing completion and the proposals are to be considered by this Committee. However, it was proposed at the Wanstead Park Summit that the City Corporation might seek to find a way where it might be possible to bring forward the establishment of a play area at Wanstead Park. 12.The Head of Visitor Services, the Head of Operations at Epping Forest and a Southern Verderer met with representatives of the London Borough of Redbridges’s Vision Trust and the Aldersbrook Playground Campaign on 8th February 2018. The meeting was organised to establish whether there was a possible play space location that met the various stakeholders needs. A possible location in the Temple area was identified and is described in Appendix 1. 13.This report presents an outline proposal to host a play area at Wanstead Park with a request to the Conservators of Epping Forest for their initial consent to progress more detailed planning and development actions. Detailed proposals would subsequently be presented to the Conservators for their consideration for full consent.
Current Position
14.The playground design company ‘Infinite Playgrounds’ were engaged by the Aldersbrook Playground Campaign to prepare outline playspace proposals appropriate to the location and heritage of Wanstead Park (Appendix 2). 15.The proposal uses largely natural materials to create distinct zones with a variety of stimulating challenges to create opportunities for children to develop physical, social and emotional skills through exploration and interaction. The intention is for the layout to integrate with the wider park and seeks to encourage users to move into the park and the ‘informal’ play opportunities that it provides. The heritage of the park can also be referenced with an example given of carvings of animals that once occupied the Menagerie Garden in the Temple. 16.Overall, the full outline proposal in Appendix 2 would cost around £120,000 The ‘zoned’ nature allows for the phased development of the proposal and there are a number of different funding levels possible. The Playground Campaign are now able to quantify the fundraising challenge and has committed to undertake this task.
Page 143 17.The Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge (LBR) Cllr Jas Athwal, has stated that the Local authority would pay for the insurance, inspection and maintenance of a play area should it be built. The nature and scope of any agreement with the LBR for the ongoing maintenance and management of the play area needs work to develop the framework of any potential agreement. 18.The possibility of establishing an interim catering proposal, such as a ‘Pop up’ café in the Temple vicinity, has been identified in the Parkland Plan development process as one possible way to assess the business case for an enhanced catering offer in the Park. Should a play space be hosted at the Temple there is an opportunity for the City Corporation to establish a seasonal or permanent pop- up catering facility linked to any play space.
Options
19.Initial activity on the proposal for possible play space at Wanstead Park has described its possible nature and scale, identified a location and obtained the ‘in principle’ agreement from the LBR to maintain and manage the play space should it be established. 20. In requesting initial consent to progress the possible hosting of a play space at Wanstead Park there are two possible options for the Conservators to consider: a. To agree to officers and stakeholders to undertake the work to prepare a play space proposal to submit for the Conservators consideration for full consent. In progressing this option it will not involve the City Corporation in any direct financial expenditure. Officer time will be required to develop legal agreements and to input to the design process. Additional benefits include developing local working partnerships with the LBR and the possible opportunity to trial additional catering facilities in the park. A successful playspace would increase visits by families with young children and help to introduce the next generation to the Park and Epping Forest. Risks are largely around the maintenance and management of the play space, including its risk management and scheduled replacement or end of life removal and the management of anti- social behaviour. b. To not agree to giving initial consent to the proposed play space. This will save in officer time allowing it to focus on alternative priorities but could lead to increased communications issues with local stakeholders including the LBR. The opportunity to pilot a longer-term income development proposal would also be lost.
Page 144 Proposals
21.A proposed design for the play area is attached at Appendix 2. The designs are for a natural play facility in materials and style that complement the surrounding environment. 22.The design allows for a combination of physical and creative play and is suitable for all age groups but especially 3-12 years old. 23.The proposed location for the play area is shown on the plan in Appendix 1 24.The construction would largely use sustainably sourced Robinia timber, which has proved durable in such uses. Surfacing will be required around each play structure and possibly for the wider play space area as well and would be subject to a fuller assessment by the LBR and Vision RCL. Structures such as slides can be orientated to reduce their visual impact to visitors. 25.Officers will support the Aldersbrook Playground Campaign, the London Borough of Redbridge and Vision RCL to: a. Undertake public consultation on the proposals with the local community and stakeholder groups; b. Obtain detailed design from the appointed contractors for approval; c. Fundraise to ensure sufficient capital funding to meet the full costs of constructing a built natural play facility; d. Obtain agreement of Heads of Terms for a Licence to occupy Forest Land with the London Borough of Redbridge that addresses the funding, insurance; inspection; litter clearance; equipment maintenance and scheduled replacement of play equipment and play surfaces; e. Secure all relevant consents under i. The General Permitted Development Order; ii. Town & Country Planning Acts iii. Consent regimes associated with Registered Parks and Gardens iv. Consent regimes associated with Conservation Area status
Corporate & Strategic Implications
26.The right to play is set out in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UK Government in December 1991, and in the UK five outcomes for all children’s services defined in Every Child Matters: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving economic well-being 27.Formal play provision remains the duty of the local authority and the City Corporation in Epping Forest does not have a duty to provide land for this. In most cases such formal provision will be contrary to the terms of the Epping Forest Act 1878. Exceptionally, the Epping Forest and Commons Committee has consented to three children’s play areas in the past where a range of criteria has been met and which are presented in the June 2018 Policy on play areas.
Page 145 28.The Wanstead Park Play area will help deliver one of the aims of the Corporate Plan 2018 – 2023, to ‘contribute to a flourishing society’:
People are safe and feel safe People enjoy good health and wellbeing Communities are cohesive and have the facilities they need
29.It will also deliver the Open Spaces Departmental Business Plan top line objectives: A. Open spaces and historic sites are thriving and accessible. B. Spaces enrich people’s lives. C. Business practices are responsible and sustainable.
Implications
28.Financial – The implications for the City Corporation should the recommended action be progressed are principally staff time to develop the legal agreements and input to the design process. There should be no direct financial expenditure for the City Corporation which will be met through the LBR under a Licence agreement. 29.Legal - A licence agreement will be entered into with the London Borough of Redbridge for the ongoing insurance, inspection, care and maintenance of the play area. 30.The Epping Forest Act 1878 and 1880 allows the City Corporation as the Conservators of Epping Forest responsibilities to maintain the Forest as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the public while preserving as far as possible the natural aspect of the Forest. Section 5 of the 1880 Act includes an additional power to manage ‘inclosed ornamental grounds’ and is thought to have been introduced specifically to address the matter of Wanstead park which was acquired in 1880. 31.Commuincations -A campaign by the local community for a play area in the vicinity has been ongoing for over 10 years. This proposal will meet the desires of the community. A public consultation will ensure that all sections of the community are given a chance to express their views on the play area. Conclusion
32.The London Borough of Redbridge have identified a deficit of play provision in the Wanstead/Aldersbrook area which has been of long standing. There is a lack of Local Authority owned land suitable for providing play facilities in the locality. Following an unsuccessful proposal for play facilities to be installed on Wanstead Flats in 2005 a natural play area has now been proposed for the Temple area at Wanstead Park. 33.The local authority has agreed to the long-term insurance, inspection and maintenance of the facility and a community group has volunteered to fund raise to provide the funding for the capital works.
Page 146 34.The proposed play area complements potential long-term developments at Wanstead Park that the City Corporation are considering and provides an opportunity to pilot an income generation opportunity in the park. 35.It is proposed that exceptional conditions are in place that would suggest it is appropriate for the City Corporation to consider a play facility be installed at Wanstead Park. Appendices
Appendix 1 – Wanstead Park Proposed Play Space Location Details Appendix 2 – Wanstead Outline Play Space Proposals
Jacqueline Eggleston Head of Visitor Services, Epping Forest, Open Spaced Department
T: 020 8532 5315 E: [email protected]
Geoff Sinclair Head of Operations T: 020 532 5301 E: [email protected]
Page 147 This page is intentionally left blank
Page 148 Appendix 1: Wanstead Park Play Space Location Details Page 149 Page
Proposed Play Area location
Possible location for a ‘Pop Up’ Cafe
Geoff Sinclair (04/06/2018) This page is intentionally left blank
Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Agenda Item 13
Committee(s) Dated:
Epping Forest Consultative Committee 13 June 2018
Epping Forest and Commons 15 May 2018
Subject: Public Proposal for Experimental Traffic Regulation Order on Fairmead Road, High Beach in partnership with Essex Highways (SEF 32/18)
Report of: For Discussion Director of Open Spaces and Heritage Report author: Tristan Vetta, Senior Forest Keeper – Epping Forest
Summary
The Epping Forest Transport Strategy (2009-2016) proposed the closure of selected minor roads within Epping Forest to reunite areas of Forest previously dissected by highways, making more of the Forest both tranquil and safety accessible to the public. The proposal to close Fairmead Road was modified in September 2013 to leave 500m (42%) open to motor traffic to retain access to the Fairmead Bottom Car Park. The partial closure has seen fly tipping and Anti-Social Behaviour previously experienced along the length of the road concentrated across the remaining 500 metres open to motor traffic.
This report proposes the introduction of an e Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) on the remaining section open to motor traffic to extend the benefits seen upon the 700m of highway closed under a Traffic Regulation Order in 2012, to the entirety of the road length.
This action would improve visitor experience, increase safety for the Forest cattle and enhance protection of the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SAC (Special Area of Conservation).
The ETRO would be in place for a proposed 18-month period and would cost the City of London Corporation circa £2,000 for the drafting of the ETRO + additional gate installation costs estimated at £3,000, these costs would be offset by the reduction of staff time required to maintain the area. Should the ETRO meet expectations in providing the positive improvements outlined, the full closure of Fairmead Road to vehicular traffic would be considered as the next step. As part of such a closure it would be proposed that the road would be safeguarded as an historic route through the Forest, providing a multi-user pathway for walkers, horse- riders and cyclists, whilst allowing the enhancement of the habitats of the ancient Fairmead.
Page 165 Recommendation(s)
Consultative Committee Members are asked to support:
approval for the 18-month Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) at Fairmead Road in line with the aims of the Epping Forest Transport Strategy and in partnership with Essex Highways; approval of the preparation of a report on the ETRO at the end of the trial period to assess the impacts of the measure on the Forest and to consider future action; approval of the development of costed proposals, for the permanent closure of Fairmead Road as a highway for vehicular traffic, as part of the negotiated Mitigation Strategy for Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation.
Main Report
Background
1. Fairmead Road, High Beach, is a 1,200m stretch of public highway dating back to perhaps the 14 Century (Essex Highways) that leads into the interior of Epping Forest. The route was closed as a through-route by means of a point closure of the highway in the 1970’s. Since then its function as a highway has been limited and its condition and maintenance have declined.
2. Given the relative narrowness of the Forest, the importance of Fairmead as one of the Forest’s remaining ancient open grassy plains and its protected status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the full closure of Fairmead Road to vehicular traffic was proposed in the adopted Forest Transport Strategy (2009 – 2016), approved by your Committee and Essex County Council in 2008.
3. The closure of Fairmead Road was highlighted in the Forest Transport Strategy (FTS) both in Section 2 on Route Management, aiming to reduce the impact of traffic on the Forest, and in Section 5 aiming to use road closures to enhance both the protection of the Forest and the access opportunities for visitors, including horse-riders and cyclists (see map extract at Appendix 2).
4. This FTS formed an important part of the Heritage Lottery-funded Branching Out Project, of which Essex County Council Highways was a co-funder and important stakeholder. As part of the Branching Out Project 700m of the road between the Epping New Road (A104) junction (opp. The Warren/Epping Forest HQ) and Fairmead Oak car park was subject to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)
Page 166 restricting use by motor vehicles. This resulted in 500m of the highway remaining open to motor vehicles, allowing the anti-social behaviour, visual disturbance of the natural aspect and damage to the SSSI/SAC to continue but in a more condensed space.
Traffic monitoring
5. Traffic Monitoring over a period of 216 days between 20/01/2017 – 29/10/2017 conducted by the Conservators discovered that an average of 56.6 vehicles accessed Fairmead Oak Car Park or reached the highways termination per day. Around 1/3 of all vehicle visits occurred during the hours of darkness and when the car park (Fairmead Oak) is locked closed to Forest visitors. Interruptions in monitoring and the end of the observation period were a result of vandalism to the traffic recording equipment.
Current Position
6. The closure of the 700m of Fairmead Road between Epping New Road and Fairmead Oak Car Park has had a demonstrably marked improvement on the Forest, allowing pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists year-round access to the Forest without the disturbance by motor vehicles. This has also improved the natural aspect of the Forest as furniture such as gates and posts installed to restrict vehicle access onto the Forest have been removed, leading to a more pleasing look of the area.
Anti-social behaviour
7. The Anti-Social Behaviour that used to occur along the entire length of the open highway has now been condensed to the 500m of unrestricted highway and Fairmead Oak Car Park. The Anti-Social Behaviour includes: fly-tipping, littering, theft from Forest visitor vehicles, vandalism of Forest furniture, damage to trees through vandalism or arson and drug related activity: use/distribution. The area is also a known and popular Public Sex Environment (PSE).
Options
8. There are three options available to your Committee:
9. Option 1 – The introduction of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to restrict motorised vehicle access along the first 500m of Fairmead Road, High Beach. This would to bring the remainder of this route in line with the current Road Traffic Order in place on the 700m of highway between Fairmead Oak Car Park and the Epping New Road and would also meet the objectives of the approved Forest Transport Strategy, that was adopted by Essex County Council Highways.
Page 167 10.The proposed duration of the ETRO would be the maximum 18 months so a better assessment of the impacts on the Forest can be observed and recorded. This 18-month period will also allow the City Corporation to monitor the effect of the closure on visitor experience and the possible displacement of any anti-social activities to other areas. This option is Recommended
11.Option 2 – The City Corporation does not apply for the introduction of an ETRO, allowing the continuation of motorised vehicle access along the first 500m of highway, but action the closing of Epping Forest car parks: Fairmead Road East/West and Fairmead Oak, in an attempt to restrict anti-social behaviour to the public highway. This option is Not Recommended
12.Option 3 – The City Corporation do not apply for the introduction of an ETRO, allowing the continuation of motorised vehicle access along the first 500m of highway and keep all car parks within the area open. This would allow the difficult to control anti-social behaviour to continue. This option is Not Recommended
Proposals
13.It is proposed to apply for an ETRO on the first 500m of Fairmead Road High Beach, through negotiation Forest Visitors will still be able to access ‘Hill Wood Car Park’ and the ‘Original Tea Hut’ but only within the trading hours of the ‘Original Tea Hut’ 0900hrs -1700hrs approx. This will require the installation of a gate(s) at the junction of Fairmead Road and Cross Roads, High Beach.
14.Another gate will need installing beyond the exit of the Hill Wood Car Park (50m from the junction) to ensure continued vehicular access is ceased. If this double gate system is not installed it is very likely that fly-tipping will still occur on the open 50m of highway, which will impact on the car park availability and the business of the City Corporation tenant: The Original Tea Hut. Pedestrian access, especially for horse riders will be observed in these gate installations in line with British Horse Society ‘standards and best practice’ (at least a 1.5m opening).
15.There will be a need to continue permissive access along this 50m section of highway for City Corporation vehicles & Emergency Services vehicles, so there will be no option of increasing car park capacity at Hill Wood Car Park which services the ‘Original Tea Hut’.
16.Following the 18-month trial period of the ETRO, it is proposed that a report is brought to your Committee with a review and assessment of the impacts of the closure. Should the trial meet expectations your Committee could consider a scheme for the permanent exclusion of vehicular traffic from this route. This would be the outcome envisaged in the approved Forest Transport Strategy and would provide a significant new length of multi-user pathway to enhance the enjoyment of visitors to this part of the Forest, including walkers, horse-riders and cyclists.
Page 168 17.The costs associated with future adoption and maintenance of this route for Forest visitors would be negotiated with Essex County Council Highways and Epping Forest District Council as a key part of the Mitigation Strategy for the protection of the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation from the impacts of the residential development in the forthcoming Local Plan.
Corporate & Strategic Implications
18.City of London Corporate Plan: the proposal meets the Corporate Plan’s vision by ensuring that our sites are secure and clean.
19.Open Spaces Department Business Plan: the proposal meets the Open Spaces Department’s Business Plan Vision by preserving and protecting our world class green spaces for the benefit of our local communities.
20.Forest Transport Strategy: The primary aim of the Epping Forest Transport Strategy is to investigate and identify options to improve safety and accessibility for Epping Forest users. The proposal meets one of the key aims of the Forest Transport Strategy by providing improved accessibility to the Forest for all users especially those arriving by public transport on foot and for cyclists.
Implications
21.The original application to close the road in its entirety to motorised vehicles was proposed in the 2009 Epping Forest Transport Strategy. The campaign to stop the installation of cattle grids, another FTS objective has undoubtedly overshadowed other objectives within the FTS. The main 3 objections to the entire closure of Fairmead Road were:
Access to Forest interior for visitors with mobility issues The use of the road for safe horse unboxing and boxing The future availability of the closed road for the riding of horses.
The route management proposals (Appendix 1) indicate that the City Corporation improvements for mobility at Connaught Water, High Beach and Knighton Wood provide good provision in the local area for visitors with mobility issues. Similar proposals, within the forthcoming Visitor Access and Car Parking Strategy, will provide dedicated Unboxing/boxing sites in the locality.
Health Implications
22.There are no foreseeable health implications associated with this proposal.
Conclusion
Page 169 23.The introduction of an ETRO on the 500m of highway open to all traffic will bring significant benefits in line with the 700m of highway closed to traffic in 2012. Visitors will benefit from traffic free access into the Forest, free from the anti- social behaviour which is known to take place at the location. The City Corporation is likely to see a reduction in costs associated with this anti-social behaviour. This action will also see an improved protection of the SSSI, SAC and cattle grazing programme. Previous objections have been addressed and alternative access arrangements, where appropriate, proposed through mitigation measures. Following the experimental period, the impacts of closure will be reviewed with a view to recommending a permanent closure to vehicular traffic should the trial meet its objectives.
Appendices
Appendix 1 – Route Management Proposals Fairmead Road, High Beach Appendix 2 – Section of Figure 2 from the Epping Forest Transport Strategy (2009 – 2016)
Background papers Report to Epping Forest & Commons Committee November 2008: Forest Transport Strategy (SEF 36/08) The Epping Forest Transport Strategy – proposals 2009-2016. City of London and Essex County Council.
Tristan Vetta Senior Forest Keeper, Epping Forest
T: 0208 532 1010 or 07734855051 E: [email protected]
Page 170 Author: Tristan Vetta Date: 05/02/2018
Route Management Proposals Fairmead Road, High Beach
INTRODUCTION
Fairmead Road, High Beach, is a 1,200m stretch of public highway that leads into the interior of Epping Forest. The highway is an important heritage feature in that it pre-dates the Epping New Road (Turnpike Trust) which was created in 1834 and is clearly depicted on the Chapman and Andre Map of Essex of 1777.
Fayremead Road was probably constructed between 1611-22 as part of wider links between Loughton and Epping, before coming under the control of the Epping Highway Trust in 1768 (Victoria British History). It is possible that the route has earlier associations with the New or Fayremead Lodge built in 1378 as a point of entry to the New Lodge Hunting Chase.
The highway remained a public thoroughfare from the Epping New Road, opposite The Warren (Epping Forest Offices) to Cross Roads, High Beach until the 1960s when it was closed at the Warren junction, due to safety concerns associated with the poor visbility from the junction angle. The road remained a ¾ mile cul-de-sac or ‘dead end’ until 2012.
As part of the Epping Forest Transport Stategy (FTS) (2009-16), Essex County Council as the Highway Authority, in partnership with the City of London Corporation made changes under the Objective 2 - Route Management element of the FTS to make 700m of the road between The Warren junction and Fairmead Oak car park subject to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) restricting uses by motor vehicles. The long term ambition was to return this section of road via a ‘Stopping Up’ Order to Epping Forest. The remaining 500m of road between Fairmead Oak Car Park and the junction with Cross Roads remained as a C or minor road. (see enclosed map).
‘The Original Tea Hut’ which has been situated (in various forms) upon Epping Forest Land within 50m of the Cross Roads junction for the past 80+ years is the only business present on Fairmead Road. The road does not provide access to any residence or inclusures within the Forest.
The parts of Epping Forest either side of the highway are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Conservation of Species and Habitats Regulations 2010 as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Page 171 There are three Epping Forest Car Parks situated along the open section of highway, two of them have a small capacity of around five vehicles each, whilst Fairmead Oak Car Park which is situated at the end of the highway has a capacity of around 20 vehicles.
TRAFFIC DATA
The Conservators of Epping Forest installed a Sensor Data Recorder (SDR) Traffic Counter on Fairmead Road. The counter was in operation from the 20th January to the 29th October 2017 (282 days). The counter was operational for a total of 216 days (76.6%) during this period. The missing 66 days were the result of frequent vandalism directed at the SDR unit.
The data counter recorded a total of 12,229 vehicles during the period. Which is an average of 56.6 vehicles per day. From this figure it can be assumed that at least 432 of these visits are a result of Epping Forest Staff opening and shutting the car park. It is also reasonable that Epping Forest Staff checking on cattle welfare which makes up around 100 counts. This leaves a total of 11,697 visits (54.2 per day).
3,905 of the recorded vehicle visits were in the hours of darkness, this represents 33.4% of total visits and 18 visits per day. As Fairmead Oak Car Park is routinely locked by Epping Forest Staff prior to sunset and after sunrise, it can be presumed that these are not genuine Forest visitors.
RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Although, the part closure has resulted in a demonstrably marked improvement for the Forest; SSSI/SAC and its visitors along the closed section of highway, the Forest surrounding the still open 500m of highway continues to suffer the same issues present prior to the closure, but now in a more condensed area.
Fly-tipping and litter
The isolation of Fairmead Road, makes it an ideal location for anti-social behaviour. In 2016 and 2017 there were 12 and 15 fly-tips respectively collected by the Conservators from Forest Land adjacent to the highway. These figures do not include fly-tips removed by Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) and Essex Highways as a result of fly-tips deposited on the highway. These fly tips have included large HGV-based dumps of building waste and tree stumps (Janruary 2015) which have left the road closed to traffic
As the Traffic Data results indicate the area is extensively utilised by vehicles at night which may deter potential fly-tipping incidents. However, the volume of litter dropped within the area is extensive. Currently, time spent litter picking the accessible highway area of Fairmead Road equates to 2 hours per week, which is a total of around 100 hours per year. This represents a cost to the Conservators of £4,000 per annum. The area is picked by volunteer litter pickers on a regular basis. The litter mostly consists of takeaways/fast food containers, condoms/sex-related litter and drug-associated waste, together with nitrous oxide containers.
Page 172 Public Sex Environment (PSE)
The high volume of sex-related litter indicates that the area is regularly used as a Public Sex Environment (PSE). The absence of street lighting; lack of through traffic and ability to visually survey additional traffic from a distance all contribute to Fairmead Road popularity as one of the Forest’s 12 PSEs. Fairmead Road is heavily promoted on adult websites including swingingheaven.co.uk; the doggingconnection.com and adultfriendfinder.com.
Anti-social behaviour
The unrestricted night time access to the area results in various forms of anti-social behaviour in addition to the litter problem. Fires, vandalism of Epping Forest Infrastructure (gates, posts, SDR unit) and trees are a regular occurrence in the area. In 2017, the replacement of damaged materials cost £600. Burnt out cars have also caused damage to trees which have been left permanently scared or have needed felling due to safety concerns.
Criminal Activity
There have been incidents of criminal activity recorded in the area: in 2015 there was a spate of vehicle break-ins, drug dealing and drug deposits have been witnessed and discovered by Epping Forest Staff, poaching of rabbits by dogs has been reported to the Epping Forest Office as well as the fly-tipping incidents.
Damage to Forest Land
Due to the narrow width of Fairmead Road (≈4m) the passing of cars along the 500m of the highway the open to all traffic has led to degredation of the Forest edge, the majority of this section is devoid of vegetation and heavily rutted in places, this situation is exacerbated in the winter as vehicles attempt to avoid waterfilled pot holes. Damage has also been caused to trees along the edge of the highway by HGVs and other large vehicles accidently accessing the road believing it to be a through road.
Conservation Cattle Grazing
The accessible by highway section of Fairmead Road also includes an area of the Epping Forest Grazing program the high volume of food waste and prophylactics poses a significant risk to cattle through accidental ingestion. It is proposed in 2018 that up to 30 head of cattle will be turned out into the Forest at this location, each animal has an average worth of around £900-1000, this does not include disposal costs/vet bills resulting from accidentalRiskl ingestion.
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The original application to shut the road in its entirity was proposed in the 2009 Epping Forest Transport Strategy. This proposal was objected to locally on the grounds of access to the Forest interior for those with mobility issues. The resulting part closure in 2012 has seen a vast improvement to the lower section of the highway which is now utilised by pedestrians including
Page 173 horses and bicycles who are able to enjoy safe traffic free access through this section of the Forest. The surface of the restricited section of highway is also significantly better than the open 500m section which is badly pot holed. The risks are still present as mentioned above.
The three main objections to the FTS Route Management objective both focused around a variety of public access-based issues.
1) Access to Forest interior for visitors with mobility issues 2) The use of the road for safe horse unboxing and boxing 3) The future availability of the closed road for the the riding of horses.
Access to the Forest for visitors with mobility issues
The majority of Epping Forest’s 58 car parks are located alongside busy A or B roads. Unusually, the section of Forest around the lightly trafficked minor road leading to Fairmead Oak car park consists of open grass plains, offering the visitor tranquil and picturesque views across the Forest. The car park can provide visitors with mobility issues the opportunity to enjoy quiet access deep inside Epping Forest. Conversely for visitors elsewhere in the vicinity walking from Hillwood and Bury Wood the same car park offers an unwelcome urban intrusion into an otherwise open area of pastoral Forest scenery. It should be noted than since February 2018 the perimeter of the car park has been fenced with cleft chestnut fencing which does obstruct the view of the Forest from a stationary vehicle.
The Farimead Oak car park forms part of the Epping Forest District Council Lifewalk network, a walking for health group supported by the West Essex Clinical Commisisoning Group as part if a network of 32 walk locations across the District. In 2018/19 16 Lifewalk activities planned from the Fairmead Oak car park, these have an average attendance of around 20 people.
The 2.25 mile level B Life walk, does not provide infrastructure at the site to improve access into the Forest for those with accessibility issues. There are however level designed paths and access routes, with disabled access bays situated at High Beach Visitor Centre which is situated 0.7miles away, Connaught Water 1.6 miles away and Knighton Lane 2.6 miles away (see enclosed map). A visit by the City Corporation’s Head of Access did not believe that the closing of Fairmead Road or was in contravention of the Equality Act 2010 as it was not targeting any particular group of people, the condition of the existing highway surface is extremely poor and there are no surfaced rides adjoining the open section of highway or the associated car parks.
As part of the Equality Impact Asssessment conducted on Fairmead Road by the Conservators, improvements have been made at High Beach Visitor Centre to improve entrance access onto the Easy Access Path to an Equality Act 2010 compliant standard.
At Connaught Water commitments have been made by the Operations Manager to assign budget to repair the 1km access path. The Conservators are also in discussions with the Environment Agency to investigate measures to alleviate flooding issues at the site.
The closing of the road up to 50m from the Cross Roads junction will result in the redundancy of the three car parks and parking provision of around 30 vehicle spaces.
Page 174 The use of the road for safe horse unboxing and boxing
Horse riders felt that the quiet road provided an ideal location for the safe unboxing and boxing of horses. The Visitor Access and Car Parking Strategy which is currently under development will propose improved facilities for horse riders at Rushey Plain Turnaround, High Beach and Bury Road, Chingford. This may even take the form of dedicated parking areas for this purpose.
Rushey Plain Turnaround – incorporates an area of around 1000m² (40x25m), but the current car park layout does not best utilise this space. The proposal of the Conservators is to remove the central vegetation island within this car park, formalise the shape of the car park and improve security. There is capacity within this design to designate the area for the safe use of horse boxes. The car park is within the SSSI, however plans to improve the car park, access to the surface ride and measures to protect important features such as the veteran beech in the south western side of the car park have been approved by Natural England. The cost of these improvements have been quoted at £21, 815 + VAT, but would have the additional benefit of improved facility and security.
Chingford Plain – the licencing of the Spencer Group Ltd at Bury Rd has resulted in a new 2000m² area of type 1 hardstanding within the extension car park, this will provide an improved and safe facility for boxing in horses, especially at weekends.
The future availability of the closed road for the the riding of horses
Many of the objections to the proposed complete closure of Fairmead Road were from members of the horse riding fraternity concerned that the right to ride horses along the closed highway would be removed, though removal of this access was not proposed in the FTS. The campaign to stop the installation of cattle grids, another FTS objective has undoubtedly overshadowed other objectives within the FTS. The Traffic Regulation Order present on the highway only impacts motorised vehicles. Horseriding groups including the Epping Forest Riders Association (EFRA) and the Byways and Bridleways Trust are concerned that the loss of any highway status might lead to the City Corporation withdrawing the right to ride in this area outside the Open Riding season. The City Corporation recognises the heritage importance of maintaing a trackway that may date back to as far as 1378 and duties under the Epping Forest Act to provide public recration and enoyment by recognising the important use of Fairmead Road by walkers, horse riders and cyclists.
The Epping Forest and Commons Committee may wish to consider issues associated with:
Future Maintenace Costs of Fairmead Road
A stopping up order for the Highway at Fairmead Road would help address FTS objectives in reuniting the Forest divided by roads and providing compensatory land for Forest Land lost to Highway Schemes such as road widening, laybys etc. The removal of the road or the future maintenance of a road would face the City of London with additional costs where budgets remain under signficant pressure.
Page 175 The confirmation of lesser Highway rights such as Restricted Byway, cycleway or Bridleway would leave the highway maintenance responsbility with the Highway Authority and would provide a guaranteed right to riders that the route could used throughout the year, irrespective of the Horse Riding Licencing Scheme.
Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO)
An experimental order is like a permanent traffic regulation order in that it is a legal document which imposes traffic and parking restrictions such as road closures, controlled parking and other parking regulations indicated by double or single yellow line etc. The Experimental Traffic Order can also be used to change the way existing restrictions function
An Experimental Traffic Order is made under Sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
An experimental order can only stay in force for a maximum of 18 months while the effects are monitored and assessed. Changes can be made during the first six months of the experimental period to any of the restrictions (except charges) if necessary, before the Council decides whether or not to continue with the changes brought in by the experimental order on a permanent basis.
It is not possible to lodge a formal objection to an experimental traffic regulation order until it is in force. Once it is in force, objections may be made to the order being made permanent and these must be made within six months of the day that the experimental order comes into force.
If feedback or an objection is received during the period that suggests an immediate change to the experiment that change can be made and the experiment can then proceed.
If the experimental order is changed, then objections may be made within six months of the day that the experimental order is changed.
In most scenarios an 18 month ETRO period is requested, this is then reveiwed at 6 months and following this review a decision is then made to proceed to a permanent Traffic Regualtion Order.
It is proposed to apply for an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) on the first 500m of Fairmead Road High Beach, through negotiation Forest Visitors will still be able to access ‘Hill Wood Car Park’ and the ‘Original Tea Hut’ but only within the trading hours of the ‘Original Tea Hut’ 0900hrs -1700hrs approx. This will require the installation of a gate(s) at the junction of Fairmead Road and Cross Roads, High Beach. Another gate will need installing beyond the exit of the Hill Wood Car Park (50m from the junction) to ensure continued vehicular access is ceased. If this double gate system is not installed it is very likely that fly-tipping will still occur on the open 50m of highway, which will impact on the car park availability and the business of the City of London tenant: The Original Tea Hut. Pedestrian access, especially for horse riders will be observed in these gate installations in line with British Horse Society ‘standards and best practice’ (at least a 1.5m opening).
There will be a need to continue access along this 50m section of highway for City of London vehicles, this is so Forestry Operations can utilise the roadway to access the Forest in order to
Page 176 reduce increased damage to the surfaced rides by heavy machinery, other City of London vehicles will require access for survey work, patrolling and cattle monitoring/movements. Emergency Services vehicles will also require access (there is fire hydrant at the end of Fairmead Road known as ‘Palmers Bridge’. Due to the necessity of this access there will be no option of increasing car park capacity at Hill Wood Car Park which services the ‘Original Tea Hut’.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY – Next Steps
The Conservators of Epping Forest will be utilising part of Fairmead Oak Car Park as a cattle handling area from Mid-February 2018.
Further route management of Fairmead Oak to Cross Roads Road Section.
Through its Local Highways Panel Essex County Council are proposing an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to be installed on Fairmead Road for a 6 month period followed by a review. This will allow an adequate period to assess the impact of closing Fairmead Road to 50m from the Cross Rds junction.
If the ETRO trial was successful the route could then be reduced is status to a Retricted Byway. While this arrangement would not return ≈5000 m2 of land to the Forest it would not pose a new maintenance liability to the City Corporation. The quoted cost of repairs to the currently open to all traffic section of highway is £27,500 + VAT.
OUTLINE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
1. Closure of Fairmead Oak Car Park 2. Preparation of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order 3. Preparation of press statement 4. Pre-closure photos and site assessment to be made 5. Review date report.
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