๐๐๐ For over 4 years this small public park on the Embankment, next to Black Rodโs garden and the Houses of Parliament, has been under threat. A new building is planned for the site, with a large modern installation inappropriately situated in this Victorian park, forming the entrance to an underground education centre. Part of this park sits within the Westminster World Heritage Site and is in a conservation zone. The available parkland would be reduced, mature trees would be at risk and the layout of the park irreversibly changed.
๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฟ The views across the park would be impaired, especially to the Houses of Parliament and the Victoria Tower; the significance of the existing memorials would be diminished, including Rodinโs sculpture The Burghers of Calais (listed Grade I), the Buxton memorial (Grade II*), and the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst (Grade II*).
For further information and the background please see:
https://www.londongardenstrust.org/VictoriaTowerGardens.htm
๐๐ At a time when our public parks are needed more than ever in the midst of this pandemic, the meeting in Parliament for the planning application to be discussed has been rebooked for October/November 2020, lasting for 4 weeks, after which a decision will be taken. The campaign to save this park needs all the help it can get. ๐ณ๐ณ๐ณ
The website below has some interesting views of the gardens and further information about the history of the park and its sculptures
https://www.savevictoriatowergardens.co.uk/the-gardens