HC Deb 03 March 1927 vol 203 cc552-4
36. Mr. CAMPBELL

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the last five years, there have been any appreciable reductions in the number of parks, recreation grounds, open spaces, and playing fields in the metropolitan boroughs of London; and, if so, what localities are chiefly affected?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am informed that there has been no reduction in the number of parks, recreation grounds and open spaces of London during the past five years, but that, on the contrary, large additions have been made. Information

SUMMARY of Parks and Open Spaces maintained in the City of London and in each Metropolitan Borough by Public Authorities.
City or Borough. Area of land and inland water in City or Borough. Approximate area of Parks and Open Spaces maintained by Total. Approximate acreage of Playing Fields in Public Parks and Open Spaces.
The Government. The London County Council. City and Metropolitan Borough Councils.
Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres.
City of London … 675 1 — 3 4 Nil
Battersea … 2,160 — 402 3 405 157
Bermondsey … 1,500 — 66 8 74 33½
Bethnal Green … 759 — 98 1 99 98
Camberwell … 4,480 — 192 34 226 79¼
Chelsea … 660 — 1 4 5 Nil
Deptford … 1,563 — 27 5 32 13¾
Finsbury … 587 — 2 9* 11 ¼
Fulham … 1,703 — 17 54 71 28
Greenwich … 3,852 313 110 6 429 70
Hackney … 3,288 — 606 13 619 296¾
Hammersmith … 2,286 — 260 17 277 127
Hampstead … 2,265 34 371 3 408 60
Holborn … 405 — 7 2 9 1¾
Islington … 3,092 — 28 18 46 17
Kensington … 2,291 55 1 4 60 Nil
Lambeth … 4,080 — 242 16 258 161
Lewisham … 7,014 — 331 27 358 173
Paddington … 1,356 67 — 33 100 22½
Poplar … 2,328 — 81 6 87 5¾
St. Marylebone … 1,473 339 — 10 349 28
St. Pancras … 2,694 99 220 16 335 80¾
Shoreditch … 658 — 3 7 10 ¼
Southwark … 1,131 — 6 7 13 ¾
Stepney … 1,766 4 24 6 34 Nil
Stoke Newington … 863 — 55 — 55 67¼
Wandsworth … 9,107 236 494 11 l,152† 175½
Westminster (City) 2,503 676 13 4 693 Nil
Woolwich … 8,277 76 368 4 448 119¼
Total … 74,816 1,900 4,025 331 6,667† 1,816¼
* Including Bunhill-flelds burial ground (four acres) maintained by the City of London Corporation.
† The figure for Wandsworth includes 411 acres, portions of Putney and Wimbledon Commons, situated within the County. The total area of the Commons is 1,045 acres.

as to private playing fields is not available.

37. Mr. CAMPBELL

asked the Minister of Health if, taking the different London boroughs, he will state the average acreage in each devoted firstly to parks and public recreation grounds and secondly to playing fields?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that particulars cannot be given for private playing fields.

Following is the information: