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Dick Benson suggested ‘much simpler’ improvements |
£4m new look for Heath is a ‘vanity project’
Architect offers alternative vision that would get rid of clutter and save money
THE £4million revamp of Parliament Hill Fields is a waste of public money, according to a designer who believes a few more trees and cosmetic changes could transform the area.
Dick Benson, who worked for architects designing social housing in Gospel Oak, has for the past 15 years submitted plans to Heath managers City of London outlining his suggested improvements. He claims his free advice has been consistently ignored.
The City is waiting for a Heritage Lottery Fund decision on a bid for a multi-million pound grant to radically alter Parliament Hill Fields.
Mr Benson says the City-backed scheme is based on meeting the demands of an out-of-control health and safety culture and is unnecessarily expensive.
He walks on the Heath daily and has studied the City’s proposals in detail. It wants to build a new access road to the staff depot from Gordon House Road, move the café closer to the cricket pitch and soften the municipal feel of the Highgate Road entrance with an avenue of trees near the tennis courts.
He said: “In some ways it seems to be a vanity project, with health and safety used as an excuse. The Heath has changed so much in recent years – there used to be just a few wooden sheds, and there was never any works traffic. Perhaps you’d see the very occasional van. Now there are signs everywhere cluttering it up for safety and information purposes. Things could be so much simpler.”
In detailed drawings seen by the New Journal, he suggests planting an avenue of plane, elm, lime, chestnut and oak trees next to the running track to partially hide the Royal Free Hospital from view.
Other ideas include leaving the Dog Café where it is, extending the kitchen area and putting in a new canopy.
Aspects of Mr Benson’s plans are more grandiose: he has even redesigned the Lido to include new squash courts, a roof terrace with views up to Parliament Hill and a gallery space for events and exhibitions.
He has a plan for the most controversial aspect of the City’s scheme, the proposed new access road to the depot which protesters say runs against the principle of not building on the Heath.
He said: “There is simply no need for this to be tarmac. They could very easily use hollowed paviors which take the weight of a truck but have grass growing through them, or two-track, countryside-style lanes.”
A similar track currently snakes around the back of the Lido, using hexagonal plastic rings.
A City spokesman said: “Our plans for the Parliament Hill Triangle, which have significant support from the community, include bringing the rural character of the Heath into this area, reducing its municipal character through improved landscaping, removing buildings from the northern side of the Broadwalk, re-using operational buildings for offices (but not building new ones), improving people’s understanding of the heritage of the Heath through better interpretation and access and, most importantly, attracting new audiences, particularly from communities south of the Heath.
“We believe they will bring significant social and environment improvements to this area of the Heath.
“The plans have been agreed upon following a large consultation process with local, regional and special interest groups in accordance with the Corporation’s statutory obligations.” |
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