The Friends of West Ham Park are calling on Newham residents to join the fight against plans to build on a disused part of the park nursery.

A new public meeting will be held virtually on March 29 at 7.30pm to strengthen local opposition to development on park land, which serves some of the most deprived people in London and the UK.

West Ham Park is a 77-acre Grade 2 green oasis in East London and is hugely valued by the community it serves, but now the wealthy Corporation of London wants to build multiple large residential tower blocks on the disused nursery site.

The Friends note that this is in stark contrast to the Corporation’s recent attempts to purchase additional land for public parkland in far more affluent parts of London. They say the nursery site has always been part of the park and historically there was full public access to the majority of the area. They argue that this area could be used instead to enlarge the public area of the park.

The park has been a lifeline for so many people, both before and especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and has always been extremely popular and very well used. The Friends of West Ham Park, who help the local communities gain the most from this fabulous open space in such a densely crowded area, are appalled at the proposal. The upcoming meeting will provide updated information on the proposed development and discuss next steps in the opposition campaign. Residents interested in attending should email protectwesthampark@btinternet.com.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.