Commenting on the 2015 election result, Dr Sid Sullivan, Vice Chairman, of the Parks Alliance said:
‘We look forward to working with a new government and in particular, we are keen to meet with the new Parks Minister to plan the best way to achieve our aims.
Our overall aim is to take action with the Minster for Parks to secure properly funded and maintained parks across the UK and describing the benefits that they contribute to Government policy and the community’s health and lifestyle. We also look forward to taking forward at the earliest opportunity the work commenced in the last parliament, and providing the Government with sound and rigorous advice and data about the assets that are the UK’s Parks and open spaces.’
As the starting point, we have the following agenda of actions:
- Appoint a Minister for Parks as a key priority, ensuring that they have a good understanding of the sector. Meet with its representatives as a matter of urgency.
- Invest in the sector to help it generate its own income.
- Establish an independent national commission to investigate the State of UK Parks, as highlighted by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s report: The State of the UK’s Public Parks (June 2014).
- Work with local authorities to provide and protect funding for parks that are so vital to national health and well-being.
- Work with local authorities across the UK to identify a ‘Park Champion’ in each council.
- Support the creation of a national standard to map and measure the quality of all green spaces.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Sarah Harrison, communications@theparksalliance.org
Website: theparksalliance.org
Twitter: @parksallianceuk
