7 May 2014
Dear Petitioner
Thank you for signing the Change.org petition about turning London into the world’s first urban National Park.
The Mayor welcomes the call for more recognition of the importance and value of London’s parks, green spaces and natural environment. He commends the campaign organisers for their inventiveness in raising awareness of this issue by calling for a Greater London National Park. The idea of a ‘National Park’ is an engaging way of sparking debate.
However, he cannot support a proposal to create a formal National Park as he understands that the evaluation framework for determining potential National Parks effectively excludes large urban areas. Furthermore, he does not have powers to ‘create’ a new class of urban National Park.
Nevertheless, the Mayor, through his London Plan policy and programmes to improve London’s park and green spaces, is providing a leadership role on this issue. In particular he has produced the All London Green Grid framework which, amongst other things, is fostering sub-regional partnerships such as the Wandle Valley Regional Park. These sub-regional partnerships have objectives consistent with those being promoted by the Greater London National Park campaign and are endorsed by London Plan policy and supported through Mayoral programmes. In addition, the All London Green Grid partnership brings together representatives from the boroughs, other land managers and environmental NGOs to ensure a more strategic, integrated approach to the management and maintenance of London’s green infrastructure.
Thank you again for contacting the Mayor.
Yours sincerely
Public Liaison Unit
Greater London Authority
Thank you for signing the Change.org petition about turning London into the world’s first urban National Park.
The Mayor welcomes the call for more recognition of the importance and value of London’s parks, green spaces and natural environment. He commends the campaign organisers for their inventiveness in raising awareness of this issue by calling for a Greater London National Park. The idea of a ‘National Park’ is an engaging way of sparking debate.
However, he cannot support a proposal to create a formal National Park as he understands that the evaluation framework for determining potential National Parks effectively excludes large urban areas. Furthermore, he does not have powers to ‘create’ a new class of urban National Park.
Nevertheless, the Mayor, through his London Plan policy and programmes to improve London’s park and green spaces, is providing a leadership role on this issue. In particular he has produced the All London Green Grid framework which, amongst other things, is fostering sub-regional partnerships such as the Wandle Valley Regional Park. These sub-regional partnerships have objectives consistent with those being promoted by the Greater London National Park campaign and are endorsed by London Plan policy and supported through Mayoral programmes. In addition, the All London Green Grid partnership brings together representatives from the boroughs, other land managers and environmental NGOs to ensure a more strategic, integrated approach to the management and maintenance of London’s green infrastructure.
Thank you again for contacting the Mayor.
Yours sincerely
Public Liaison Unit
Greater London Authority
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