Access All Areas June 2018 | Page 32

JUNE | COVER FEATURE Parking in London Access runs down some key stats on the capital’s events in and around the parks • It costs circa £40m to run the parks. In 2016/17 events generated circa £11 million • Events provide a vital source of income; without it TRP could not continue to improve and conserve the parks to the high standards expected • 87% of residents support events being held in Hyde Park when they know that money raised is reinvested into the parks (IPSOS Mori 2016) • 80% of local people agree that events in Hyde Park have a positive impact on London. (Ipsos Mori 2016) • The Royal Parks attract over 77 million visits each year • Before events TRP works with event partners to put measures in place to protect the park and post event it ensures the parks are fully restored, funded by event organisers • Major Events on the Hyde Park Parade Ground take up approximately 13% of the whole park, leaving 87% open and accessible for all • All events TRP hosts are in line with its Major Events Strategy • London & Partners estimate that London’s event leisure tourism directly contributed £2.8bn to the city’s economy in 2015 and supported over 27,000 jobs. This includes events held in the Royal Parks • Major events are worth at least £400m a year to London 32 Below: Hyde Park revellers guidelines to improve the event from the initial stages.” The enquiries really took an upturn after the 2012 Olympic Games, during which the parks held events including the triathlon, 17 roller events, beach volley ball at Horseguards. Once the Parks breathed sigh of relief from these, the team took stock of its Major Events Programme. “We went from having a very reactive department, dealing with events and filming daily, to being proactive. Our strategy document was published in 2013, and then updated in 2015. It went out for consultation and has the buy in for stakeholders,” says Mainwaring. The list of stakeholders varies from park to park. At St James Park for example, The Queen, Prince Charles, residents and the military are among those with vested interests. Hyde Park has a similar list, including The Friends of Hyde Park Group & Kensington Gardens. “Hyde Park is ‘the people’s park’, so the consultation is thorough. Its events are more based around entertainment with the Parade Ground hosting up to nine concerts annually with a 60,000 capacity.” Elsewhere, the park hosts PWR’s Winter Wonderland, Proms in the Park, the Royal Parks Half Marathon and mass participation sporting events. “We set the capacities for each event, and we tender for opportunities. For concerts, we want to tender for a seven year contract, and we are way more prescriptive in our requirements. I wrote the specification for Winter Wonderland’s tender. For concerts in Hyde Park, we set a red line boundary, and require certain standards, like flushable loos, the best artists, qualitative and financial submissions.” Long term contracts allow the Royal Parks to become a partner and allow organisers to invest heavily in year one setup. “AEG, for example, invested in the Great Oaks Stage in 2013, a structure that is in keeping with the surroundings and is truly world class.” Elsewhere, St James Park, Regents Park and Richmond Park are used for more ceremonial purposes, and as such are subject to more branding restrictions. “We try and restrict what we do at Horseguards Parade as it is a shared space with a changing of the guards occurring daily. It therefore has a national importance. However, there are various events that are suitable for the space.