Minutes of the Crystal Palace Park Steering Group 12:15pm on Friday 11th May 2007 Conference Room 2, Palestra Present: Roger Frith – LDA Robin Buckle – LDA Lucinda Mould – LDA Richard Syddall – LDA Vijay Luthra – LDA Rob Beasley – LDA Louise Johnson – LDA (minutes) Matthew Yates – TfL Luke Albanese – TfL Fred Baron – TfL Alex Banner – TfL Val Shawcross – GLA Ami Ibitson – GLA Apologies: Garry Luttman – GLA Emma Wheelhouse – LDA Fiona Duncan – LDA Guy Thornett – LDA Patrick Loy - GLA 1. National Sports Centre Arups are working on the scope for the refurbishment of the NSC – principally on the M & E works. Plan is to start works in November 2007, with an aim to finish in May 2008. The Jubilee Stand will be kept open. 50% of funding for these works has been pledged by Sport England. Talks about whether listed building consent is required are currently underway (Bromley and English Heritage). 2. Updated Masterplan Master plan is more or less complete in terms of landscape. Currently concentrating on the gateways and the structure of the landscape so that buildings can be integrated into the master plan. There are housing proposals for Rockhills and Sydenham. Following redesign of Rockhills the built footprint has been reduced to c.1 acre. At present, we are on track for a design freeze at the end of May. Planning submission will be made by end of September. The management and maintenance plan is going forward – it is apparent that the structure of managing remains Bromley’s responsibility and obligation to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Bromley spent £1.1m on the Park, £400k of that pays a debt on security they had on the hill top in the 1990’s. LDA plan to have a meeting with Bromley about this. Draft transport assessment will be available at end of June. A visitor survey in January suggested that visitor numbers were at 1.9m. The problem is there has never been an actual assessment of visitor numbers so it is difficult to give an accurate reading. It was agreed that there is a need to look at projected visitor numbers especially for large events. TfL and LDA agree that the traffic flows etc should be monitored at the next significant event – the RPO is expected to pull approximately 5k – 6k visitors per show. Action – VL to supply TfL with a program of events. VL to discuss with Greenwich Leisure Limited also. 3. Tramlink TfL reported that they are currently in the process of determining the preferred option for the whole route. There is pressure from Bromley to include the Beckenham branch. TfL are also liaising closely with Network Rail,. The aim is to have an option agreed by October/November. Construction is due to start in 2011, with an aim to complete by 2013. There have been 1500 responses to the consultation, the majority of which have been positive, and it is evident that the positive spontaneous comments that have been received largely outweigh any negativity. The off-street option is the most favourable, then the hybrid, with the on-street being the least favourable. The consultation has provided a clear indication of what local people want. There is also support from the local boroughs, with both Croydon and Bromley in favour. A petition from the Triangle Traders has been received – they are extremely keen for the Tramlink extension. For information, the reasons that people did not like the on-street option include poorer interchange and more traffic issues than the other options. A general discussion takes place. In principle, the route through the Park works well for LDA and TfL. However, there are still a few issues that need ironing out – how close it will all be to Heritage features, the actual route itself, timing of release of information etc. TfL advise meeting of their concerns/thoughts. TfL feel that there is a requirement for three platforms, and they have supplied a drawing to the LDA. Currently there are based on reduced guideline requirements for bus and tram platform widths, and work is continuing on a design that meets both the LDA and TfL requirements. LDA confirms that there is a meeting scheduled for next week with Latz & Partners to thrash out the last few issues. A general discussion about the planning application and what information should be released takes place. TfL would prefer not to make an early announcement. From a planning perspective, the LDA consider that Bromley would find it difficult to consult on a proposal that is so large and so undetermined. Discussion about release of information and timing continues. It is felt that there would need to be a very good reason as to why we would not say anything. It is more of a communications issue than a project issue. LM points out that it is difficult to submit a planning application and then alter the plans. Discussion about the exhibition/picture – what are we going to show? We need to have an idea of what it is going to look like. Action: TfL and LDA to agree content of application with regard to Tramlink. 4. Capel Manor LM advises meeting that Bromley are mindful to grant permission but do not have the authority to grant permission until GoL resolve their Article 14 Direction. Farm will hopefully open in September. GLL are in talks with Groundworks and Capel Manor. 5. Consultation Continuing work on the twintrack process. Local Dialogue are continuing their work with the wider community. Ray Hall is submitting a planning application to rebuild around CPP around the same time we submit ours. LDA will not support this application. Park News has been very successful, there have been four copies issued, which focus on good news stories. 6. Press It has been a good month in terms of press coverage. We have benefited from the recent article in the Observer. We have also received positive press with regards to the demolition of the turnstiles. Shopkeepers have informed VL that the rents are slowly increasing – this is worrying for many, as the retail centre is becoming more fragile. MY confirms that he has been in touch with Iain Sim from Croydon Council with regards to an area action plan. 7. AOB Tourism AS provides meeting with an update and overview of the tourism scoping study which was recently commissioned by the Tourism Company. The study has identified the various opportunities and areas for action in and around the Park. It also analyses the perception that the general public have – there is very little promotional activity, and as a result the name “Crystal Palace Park” is well known, but there appears to be some confusion about what is actually there. In spite of this, Crystal Palace Park does not necessarily need promotional activity just yet – the aim is to improve the product first, and then promote it. It became apparent that the Park attracts what is know as “social wanderers”. It is clear that future plans need to concentrate on a diverse events program in order to reach all corners of the market. RF adds that tourism fits perfectly within the master plan. There is a need for a realistic events budget. Events VL runs through the list of events planned for this year: a) CPP Triathlon – end of May. b) “Love Parks” – a week of low-key events run by Green Space – 16 24 June. c) RPO – we have received four objections to the licence application. If these objections are not resolved/withdrawn, there will be a licence hearing on 1st June. Action: VL to provide VS with a briefing. d) Grand Prix – 3rd August. e) Tour of Britain – 9th September. Action: VL to speak to GLL re cycle parking. Turnstiles Turnstiles have now been removed. Discussion about arranging a mini launch. Good press coverage etc. Action: RF to talk further to VS. Wind Turbines/Tower Action: LDA to forward details to MY ASAP. Action: LJ to arrange meetings for Friday lunchtimes/afternoons. End of meeting.