Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2022
A video tale of when local government seeks to remove structures designed to protect kids from covid, emissions and traffic.
The kids are saying that street-calming structures designed to give them a place to play on what was previously a road — directly outsdide Chisenhale Primary School — is a good thing because it stops particulate pollution from getting into their lungs. See background in notes section below.
Some residents say they want their “streets back”.
Forklift arrives.
Kids unhappy. Forklift backs off for now.
Resident gets cross because the street calming structures are not being removed as instructed by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman.
(Corrects initial misspelling)
NOTE:
From: School Streets <School.Streets@towerhamlets.gov.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 2:12:48 PM
To: School Streets <School.Streets@towerhamlets.gov.uk>
Subject: Chisenhale School Streets and Play Space
Dear Resident,
I wanted to write to you with a short update regarding the Chisenhale Primary school street scheme and temporary play space outside the school. As you may be aware, the scheme was established through an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) and introduced: road closures for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon at school pick up and drop off times in Kenilworth Road, Chisenhale Road, Vivian Road, Zealand Road and Ellesmere Road, play space on Chisenhale Road and Vivian Road, and a one-way system working southbound on Vivian Road.
The ETO has now lapsed, and the Mayor has decided that it will not be made permanent going forward. However, the Mayor and the Council take the safety of children extremely seriously, and are examining possible alternative measures to maintain safety without the need for road closures. These measures will be shared with residents in due course.
The current arrangement will be removed on Thursday 27th October. If you have any further questions, please contact school.streets@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Nigel Davies
Head of Highways & Transportation
Background
East London Lines article from 2021
School raises £10k to turn road outside into playground
by Selma Boucenna/ March 16, 2021
A fund set up by parents and teachers at a Bow primary school has raised almost £10,000 to turn a section of the road located outside the school into an extra playground.
The playground would be placed outside Chisenhale Primary School between the Chisenhale Road and Vivian Road junction and would allow longer playtime and PE lessons.
The school is in the process of securing permission from Tower Hamlets Council, which has partially funded the scheme. It is also in the process of developing an arts programme with local organisations, as well as finalising detailed designs for the flexible community space, which includes plans for site security.
In a statement Chisenhale Parent Teacher Association told Eastlondonlines: “This is to turn a little used road space into a pop-up playground, an outdoor classroom and a community space for artwork, work shops and Covid-safe performances.”
The money raised will be spent on making of the playground, from the labour to help with installation to planters and seating.
The school told ELL that the plan would turn a little used road space into a playground, an outdoor classroom and a community space for artwork workshops and, for the time being, Covid-safe performances. The playground will be permanent but for fine weather use only. The scheme will lead to the closure of the area to all but emergency vehicles.
Rob Hughes, a parent governor who has been involved from the start said: “When the kids went back to school in June they were in their ‘bubbles’, forced to play in smaller areas of the already small playground….We want to show that the world doesn’t stop when you lose 11 parking spaces”.
However not all parents are happy with the plans. One parent at the school who asked to remain anonymous, told ELL: “My only issue with this it is blocking a road that we travel down on a daily basis meaning we need to find another route. Also blocking off a road can create traffic in the surrounding area but hopefully over time, the positive to this scheme will outweigh the negatives.” Other parents are said to feel aspects of the scheme are “unsafe” and “not secure enough” for their children.
Local organisations such as Chisenhale Gallery, Chisenhale Dance Space and Chisenhale Studio (Heat-Island) support the idea and have donated large sums.
Headteacher Sharon Taylor-Sezgin told ELL: “The pop-up playground has been supported by the local and school community and we hope that it will be a way of strengthening links with Chisenhale gallery, Chisenhale Dance Space and Chisenhale Studio, which are all just across the road from us and would also be able to benefit from the space, as well as increasing space for play and PE lessons.”
Sophie Timson, a member of the PTA also backed the scheme: “It’s been a tough year for everyone, the school and wider community have been physically separated. We wanted the project to bring everyone together around a shared space. It’s a great opportunity to transform the street, prioritise people and add some colour and excitement. The kids especially are fascinated and excited by the prospect of taking over the street to play in!”
One student, Evie, who is 10 years old, from year five said: “The Chisenhale play space is very exciting! It will increase the number of children who can play at our school and it means there will be less cars, which means less pollution, which means a better environment.”
Parent Kirsty Bishop 28, who’s also a primary school teacher, told ELL: “I think it’s a wonderful idea to create a pop-up playground not only will we see our children smile again but it gives them a chance to explore and socialise with other children.”
“Personally, my little boy, Jamal who is six years old, loves the idea of the playground expanding it will give him a chance to express himself better as there will be more space to run…. In the long run extra space can create different learning experiences so my family and I are 100% backing this scheme/fund.”