1.12 In the absence of a formal strategic forum to bring all parties together, EP has facilitated relationships with third parties. The stakeholders who were consulted in the course of this study were generally supportive of EP's approach and said they had good relationships with it. The case study below presents an example of how good working relationships have had a positive impact on the project.
1.13 Consultation by EP and the private sector partners with local community groups is well thought out and comprehensive. The main channel for consultation is through the Greenwich Peninsula Partnership which represents a large number of small community stakeholders. As the project is at an early stage there is, however, no resident population on the northern part of the Peninsula. We convened a focus group of community representatives, which was observed by two academic urban regeneration experts8, to review the consultation process in more detail. The experts thought it was likely that more detailed issues will arise as the project progresses and that consultation would continually need to evolve so as to avoid reinforcing "engagement with the engaged". There has been some good work to date with marginalised groups but the experts felt that even more targeted, persistent and imaginative initiatives could be required.
CASE STUDY |
Successful downsizing of London Underground car park at North Greenwich Station The 1,000 space car park adjacent to the North Greenwich station was very popular with commuters from South East London and Kent and was one of the very few such car parks within zone 2 of the London underground system. The proposed closure of approximately 50 per cent of parking bays, to provide sufficient car parking facilities for visitors to The O2, was expected to create widespread disapproval and lead to illegal parking in the surrounding Peninsula. This public protest did not materialise. EP brought MDL, AEG, Greenwich Borough council and London underground together into a working group to manage the closure process. A planned communications programme run jointly by all of the parties meant that the public was well-informed and directed throughout, and disruption minimised, allowing this car park to be provided under the contractual arrangements in time for the opening of The O2. |
Source: English Partnerships |
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8 Professor Paul Lawless of Sheffield Hallam University and Professor Marilyn Taylor of the University of the West of England.