Update on works on Barlett Park, including stopping up on Cotall Street and temporary closure of grass football pitches. Please find below more details:
Works to improve Bartlett Park are progressing well, although as I am sure you are aware, there have been some delays on-site, specifically with the installation of the inclusive playground next to Poplar Union which has, in turn, caused a delay in the works to Cotall Street and the canal side. We are hoping that work to the playground will be completed by the end of August, but we aren’t planning to open the playground until work to the areas adjacent to it are finished.
We are also sorry to report that we are obliged to temporarily close both of the grass football pitches on Bartlett Park to deal with unexpected issues with the pitch areas. We had always planned on having one of the pitches out of action to alter its location slightly to allow for the perimeter paths, but we have now discovered a manhole on the other pitch that requires us to adjust the location of the second pitch. This means that both pitches will be out of action for the autumn and be back available for use once the site reopens in December 2019.
The stopping up of Cotall Street is integral to the overall park improvements. This will allow direct access from Bartlett Park directly onto Limehouse Cut. The access to the canal side will be greatly enhanced and opened up. The Cotall Street stopping up and canal works are the most technically challenging and problematic phase of the project and so have the greatest risk associated with them. The many stakeholders for this aspect of the scheme, including Canal & Rivers Trust, Poplar HARCA and statutory agencies that permissions and agreements must be sought. We are actively chasing the last of the permissions and hope to permanently stop up Cotall Street in early September 2019.
Formal consultation was carried out with local residents as part of the planning process and later in relation to Section 247 asking for comments and objections for the stopping up order for Cotall Street. Noticeboards have to be placed around the park outlining the scheme and an update meeting held at Poplar Union as a Q&A Session. On the whole general support was offered in regards to closing Cotall Street. In February 2019, a newsletter was distributed to residents with an update about the scheme and announcing an opportunity for local communities to contribute ideas for the former Adventure Playground site. A further newsletter letting residents know about the scheme will be produced in late September/ early October and delivered to those living close by the park.
It is anticipated that the permanent stopping up of Cottal street will take place week commencing Monday 9th September 2109. We will place banners around the Park in the week commencing August 26th to ensure residents know what is going on. Additional signage informing the public and resident will be placed in adjoining roads before the actual closure. Once the Cotall Street is closed it will not be re-opened for traffic from that point.
This will allow the creation of an integrated interface between the canal and Bartlett Park as part of the park redevelopment. Cotall Street will become permanently pedestrianised after the closure. We are looking forward to a grand reopening of the site in late 2019.
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