River reconfiguration plans for Arnos Park axed by council

The previous Labour administration had wanted to restore a more “natural” course for Pymmes Brook but hundreds of local residents objected to the scheme

Arnos Park and (inset) a project to naturalise a river at another Enfield park

Enfield Council’s Conservative administration has axed previous plans by Labour to reconfigure the course of Pymmes Brook through Arnos Park.

The contentious scheme would have seen the “polluted” river released from its concrete channel and meandered to make it more “natural”. The goal was to reduce flooding downstream and improve water quality.

However, members of the Friends of Arnos Park and the Arnos Park Preservation Society objected to the plans, with several hundred residents signing a petition against it. A member of both groups, Matthew Pierce, claimed last year the scheme would “split the park into two”.

Arnos Grove is represented by two Conservative councillors, including Paul Pratt, who argued strongly against the proposal.

Welcoming the recent decision of the minority Tory administration, which took power in May, Cllr Pratt said: “I, like many park users, was not convinced about the justification for this scheme.

“Most concerning for me was how a new river would be maintained. What I was told by council officers was that volunteers would be relied upon for this, which is totally unacceptable, especially because other schemes in the borough have failed due to lack of maintenance.”

The Arnos Grove councillor added: “This is not only a victory for residents, who organised and petitioned against the scheme, but also for common sense, finding its way back into running Enfield Council.”

However, the news comes as a setback for local environmental campaigners such as those from Pymmes Brookers, which campaigns for improvements to the heavily polluted river.

Writing for the Dispatch two years ago, the group had endorsed the council’s plans for Arnos Park and said: “Restoring and re-meandering a river allows it to flow more naturally. Faster flows clean the gravels, under which invertebrates live. These invertebrates are crucial to the food web, supplying food for birds and aquatic life, but they can’t survive in dank, concrete-clad, slow-moving water where sediments are constantly being deposited.”

Asked to explain the decision, Edward Smith, the council’s cabinet member for council assets and culture, said: “We are a listening council and the feedback from our residents is important to us. We appreciate the report from Arnos Park Preservation Society and the work of its volunteers. We understand the implications for our park users.

“Therefore, the council has decided to halt the Pymmes Brook river relocation. The proposal was originally initiated to look at flood risks and improve the natural environment. However, we want to proceed with a plan that ensures residents are happy with their green spaces.

“We will continue to explore alternative options with our partners and work towards making the borough flood-resilient, protecting habitats for wildlife and creating parks that are more enjoyable for visitors.”

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

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

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.

ACT NOW!

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.