Little Dorrit Park improvement project

Results of the second public consultation

We're improving Little Dorrit Park, a small park just off Borough High Street near London Bridge Station.

Background

The play area at Little Dorrit Park is in poor condition and needs to be replaced before it becomes unsafe. Regular safety inspections are being carried out, and there is a risk that items of play equipment may need to be closed off or removed, should they deteriorate beyond repair. The Peace Garden is directly next to Little Dorrit Park and is included in this project.

This page summarises the results of the second consultation held in September and November 2022.

If you'd like to view the full report, email leisureprojects@southwark.gov.uk and we will send you a PDF copy or paper copy of the report).

Summary of the consultation

The survey had 59 responses which is a good response rate.

Respondents were invited to comment on two design options (see appendices 1 and 2 on pages 25 and 26 of the report which can be obtained by email).

39% of respondents did not prefer one design option over the other, which shows that there may be elements from each design that appealed to respondents. Design Option 1 was selected by about a third of respondents (36%) and Design Option 2 was less popular with 25% of respondents selecting it as their preference

Play

The location of the play area that was shown in Option 2 will be taken forward, to make sure the playground is located as far away from residential properties as possible, reducing the possibility of noise disturbance

Some people wanted to keep the current play equipment, especially the train, but unfortunately, the poor condition of these items means we cannot. Play equipment made from wood was popular, as well as the slide, and these will be included. The play area will be made more accessible, increasing the opportunities for children with disabilities to play alongside their friends. Some people wanted a bigger play area, but this was not possible due to the small size of the park. Some respondents wanted more equipment for children under 5 years old, and although this will be explored, the small size of the play area limits the range of what can be provided.

Dogs

Half of the respondents mentioned that they felt there is a lack of provision for dogs. In the design, there will be an increase in open space for dogs and their owners to use.

Some respondents suggested we convert the Peace Garden into a designated dog exercise area. A new dog exercise area is not recommended as experience has shown that such areas are not helpful, particularly in small parks.

History

History information boards were suggested and should funding be sufficient, they will be included in the design.

Wildlife

Many people liked the nature garden in the Peace Garden and wanted more improvements for wildlife in Little Dorrit Park, and we will look at adding this to the design.

Sport and fitness

Although some people favour an outdoor gym, others feel it's unnecessary because there are already outdoor gyms nearby at Mint Street Park and Tabard Gardens. An outdoor gym is no longer included.

Relaxing

Respondents asked for more benches and picnic tables, which will be added to the design.

The rose beds

Keeping the roses was important for a few people and we're exploring moving them to a better location.

Lamp posts

Some respondents wanted lamp posts in the park. Adding new lights to a park is not recommended, as this can create a false sense of security and lead to antisocial behaviour, encouraging people to use the park at night.

Introducing new lighting in the park is not being recommended for several reasons:

1. Lighting routes through parks create a false sense of safety. It encourages people to walk through parks at a time when there are very few people around and visibility is poor. Trees and dense shrubbery mean that many areas beyond lit sections, remain dark and could become hiding places. In these circumstances, lighting pathways has a tunnelling effect on the senses and reduce awareness and visibility of other park areas. 
2. Parks are predominantly meant for daytime use. Lit open spaces attract nighttime revellers to gather causing noise disturbance to nearby residences.
3. Lighting harms wildlife
4. The council has an ongoing commitment to tackle climate change and this includes minimising energy consumption across the borough
5. There are often clear road alternatives to cycling or walking through a park. Routes that provide better natural surveillance at night due to the proximity of shops, residences, pedestrians and road traffic.

Facilities for our maintenance team

Our maintenance team needs an area to park a small vehicle when working to look after the park. Some respondents did not like this suggestion, however, there was a misunderstanding that this would only be a parking space, and no longer be a pedestrian area. We will explore the options, but if we cannot find another suitable parking location, we will ensure the vehicle area blends in with the park as much as possible. This could be done by using reinforced grass so vehicles can access the area without getting stuck in the mud.

The alleyway

Little Dorrit Court is an alleyway along the northern side of the park. Some respondents asked for it to be incorporated into the park. As it is designated as a’ Right of Way’, Little Dorrit Court cannot be added to the park.

Some respondents mentioned that they'd like the walls removed, as it would make the park feel more open, and safer, and this is being explored.

The mosaic

Some respondents would like the mosaic removed or relocated. Should funding be sufficient, the mosaic may be removed.

Equalities

The equality data that was collected shows that children and young people aged 17 and under, and older people aged 75 and above appear not to have been represented in respondents to the survey. Young adults aged 18 to 34 also appeared underrepresented during the survey, and make up a large proportion of the local population.

People with disabilities appeared to be underrepresented in the survey responses. One respondent mentioned that they have a child with disabilities, highlighting the importance of installing new play equipment that is suitable for children with disabilities.

People from Asian and black backgrounds appeared to be underrepresented during the survey, highlighting the issue that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to put forward their views.

Christians, Sikhs and people with no religion all appeared to be well represented when compared with the local population of Borough and Bankside ward. Some religions appear not well represented; we received no responses from people who said they are Hindu, Buddhist or Jewish. Muslims comprise 7.64% of the local population and only 3% of the people who responded and provided equalities information during our survey.

The survey appears to have been completed by more people whose registered sex at birth was female (61.5%), than whose registered sex at birth was male (38.5%). This shows that people assigned male at birth may have been underrepresented, but does not take into account gender identity.

In Southwark, 1.2% of people identify as transgender and/or have a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth. No respondents to our survey stated that they identify as transgender and/or have a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth; so transgender people appear not to have been represented at all.

Gay, lesbian and bisexual people appear to have been well represented, and people who stated they are heterosexual/straight appear to have been underrepresented in the survey respondents.

The full report

Further information is available in the consultation report, which is available in PDF or paper form, by emailing leisureprojects@southwark.gov.uk. 

Page last updated: 05 August 2024