- Jill Simpson says:
September 11, 2019 at 12:52 amEdit
Whitewebbs Park is a well loved, well used beautiful natural resource open for Enfield residents, allowing them to escape and relate to nature. Studies have proved that just 20 minutes of experiencing green spaces like Whitwebbs are extremely beneficial and can even help those with mental health issues.
Open and free Access to this treasured Park , its thoroughfares, its woodland and Wildlife must be protected for all.
I suggest that an Environmental Impact Assessment involving specialist agencies like Natural England and the Woodland Trust as Whitewebbs Woods includes Ancent Woodland which is noted as a Special Site of Scientific Importance is essential. Other agencies: RSPB, the Bat Society, The London Greenbelt Council and Wildlife Trusts and others.. should be seriously consulted not just logged.
Has this been raised with local groups? The Enfield Society, the
CAG, Forty Hill and Bulls Cross Study Group, The Green Belt Forum?
We need a public meeting including relevant council officers, ward councillors
and the Director of Environment.
Notification has been poor . If it wasn’t for social media I would not have
known about it and I live just 5 minutes from Whitewebbs.
This is an initial response, off the top of my head.
Please reply urgently.
Thank you
Jill Simpson
- Martin Smith says:
September 11, 2019 at 7:51 amEdit
Any commercial development of open spaces and woodland is
extremely undesirable, to much open space has already been lost to
“development” which only benefits the greedy and not the locla people or the
local authority except in the very short term. The cafe could be enhanced to
serve decent food and even have late openings on special occassions as has been
done elsewhere, this could be a great benefit.
Bear in mind that commercial property developers and estate agents cannot be
trusted since they are only motivated by greed, which is why property prices
and rents are so absurd, keep this beautiful open space for the people, as we
have seen the running costs are very low and can remain so for the benefit of
all.
- Chris Gooch says:
September 11, 2019 at 8:16 amEdit
In a time when mental health is declining and GP’s are
prescribing community gardening and getting out into nature, it seems odd that
Enfield Council is not willing to invest in this amazing asset. There are so
many activities that would bring money in for the Council whilst keeping the
park’s natural beauty. To name a few: bushcraft days, organised woodland walks
with experts, marshmallow productions put time limited productions on in
Woodlands (and have supported Greenpeace). They recently used Epping for one of
their productions. These are educational and magical events; Mushroom
identification walks are so popular it’s almost impossible to get a place on
one. These are just a few things that would raise money and benefit the
population of Enfield.
The cafe could be a much greater attraction if it provided proper shelter.
I would be totally against this area being used to dump excavated material
(look at the problems of contaminated materials at Enfield Island Village). I
would also not be in favour of housing in this area which would ruin the feel
of this special area.
- Deirdre Wilson says:
September 11, 2019 at 10:25 amEdit
I completely disagree with any extension of the golf course that could impact the park. Whitewebbs is a great place for walking, relaxing etc. Please stop this and leave it as it is.
- Peter Jury says:
September 13, 2019 at 4:23 pmEdit
I agree with all earlier comments and I and my dog(s) have
walked Whitewebbs and Forty Hall for at least 35 years. I can remember 1987 and
the devastation to the trees in the park. But it all looks so peaceful now
whatever the weather. If the damage that has been inflicted on North Lodge is
typical of what waste dumping will do to create a different style of golf
course then please leave well alone.
Well done LBE for the remedial work on the lodge but it should not have been
allowed to happen in the first place.
Finally is the old course of the New River protected. ? It was constructed in
the seventeenth century and if you look carefully an awful lot of the loop
exists as well as the aqueduct. So can it be listed ? I have not seen any
English Heritage signs or protective notices.
- Diane Boreham says:
September 20, 2019 at 1:52 pmEdit
I’ve been using whitewebbs Park for 50 years. Starting as a young girl riding at the riding schools which use the bridle paths to then go on and get my own horses to which I got great enjoyment using the bridle paths. Stopping off at the king and tinker for a drink. I still use whitewebbs to walk my dogs, it gives you great pleasure to met like minded dog owners and walkers. After the walk we stop off at whitewebbs cafe and enjoy spending time relaxing chatting it’s been a great help in times of stress ect. It’s lovely to see the many golfers out there enjoying their time off from a busy life To take it all away from the people and the wildlife is heart breaking.
Lindsey Lane says:
September 20, 2019 at 9:21 amEdit
I’m a bit worried as I have seen some trees in whitewebbs with blue dots on them, what does this mean as I have counted 25 oak trees with the blue dot on.
Birgitta Whitaker says:
September 11, 2019 at 6:15 pmEdit
Devastating for wildlife, and the amazing woodland,
flora and fauna, if developed.
Can you put a price on people’s well-being from having such a wonderful area to
walk in and enjoy we are fast losing the green belt hope it doesn’t end up like
Trent park, which is heartbreaking.
Avril Wooster says:
LBE states it has a “vision of benefitting the local community”.
Knowing and having used Whitewebbs Park since around 1970 I would suggest that
it is already ” benefitting the local community” in a wide variety of ways,
many of which appear in the comments.
I taught my children to ride along the BRIDLEWAYS, which you conveniently
forget to mention. These are still being used by adults and children to this
very day. Horse riding is an excellent excercise for young and old alike, also
an excellent way to meet and make like minded friends. I know of many young
people who have gone on from riding ponies through Whitewebbs Park that now
have employment within many aspects of the varied horse world, myself included
throughout their lives. Had it not been for Whitewebbs Park and the BRIDLEWAYS,
they and I may not have had such employment.
Regarding NATURE CONSERVATION. Tipping of inert materials will undoubtedly cause havoc along the country lanes and side roads with the lorries. Where is the Conservation in that with noise, fumes and danger to walkers, horse riders and wildlife?
Does the LBE need any more Leisure Centres, it already has three?
It appears that the LBE “community engagement ” is sadly lacking from comments that many residents had no idea that LBE was considering putting “their” Park out for tender and that the signage was woeful.
A Freedom of Information Request would be a good idea to establish exactly what financial costs of upkeep the LBE actually has had over the last say 25 years, year on year. It is probably not a lot.
Whitewebbs Park is an asset to the community in a variety of ways, not least a place in which many can relax and draw a breath of fresh air and help their mental well being. Do not underestimate this and do not make a commercial speculation that could endanger this.