Wanstead Flats

Requirement for Temporary Briefing Centres Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need MBDCs?

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games millions of additional visitors will come to the Capital for the biggest sporting event which London and the UK has ever seen. During the Games, the Metropolitan Police Service will deploy a large number of officers across London in order to ensure the safety and security of the events, venues and crucially all residents in the capital.

A consistent daily briefing for all officers and staff policing the Games is a key requirement. These will be conducted in temporary briefing centres specially built for the Games period called Muster Briefing and Deployment Centres. This is a tried and tested part of policing operations - for example, used for a number of years at the Notting Hill Carnival. The briefing centres allow for the most up to date intelligence to be given to officers over staggered periods at the centre.

During 2012 a number of events are taking place across whole of London. As this is a large geographical area the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), the Games organisers, have divided London into three zones of operation. We are developing our policing plans in line with this and have identified a need for three temporary briefing centres. This includes one briefing centre to cover the Park Zone - the area around the Olympic Park, Victoria Park and Stratford. The proposed location for this is the fairground area of Wanstead Flats.

Further temporary briefing centres are also proposed for the River Zone - the area around Greenwich, and the Central Zone which includes Hyde Park, Wembley and Horse Guards Parade. The exact locations are still to be confirmed.

Following a public consultation in November 2010, the Met submitted a planning application to Redbridge Council for a temporary muster briefing and deployment centre during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Planning permission was granted at the Council's Regulatory Committee on 24 February 2011 subject to conditions. The decision notice and full list of conditions can be viewed on the Council's website.

Rationale for choice of site

Why was Wanstead Flats chosen?

When the need was identified for a briefing site in east London, an extensive search was conducted focusing on large open spaces in the area. The search focused on robust criteria to ensure that any proposed site would meet our operational requirement. The criteria included:

· Proximity to the areas to be policed to avoid too much delay in deploying officers following their briefing
· Availability - at the time of searching for a location, a number of sites were unable to confirm whether other Games related activity would be taking place on these.
· Size and capacity of site
· Accessibility - main transport links and good access onto road networks
· Distance from residential areas
· Security of site
· Supportive Landowner/Caretaker - permission of the Landowner or Caretaker is required for any proposed site. The City of London Corporation have, after discussions, agreed in principle to the use but only subject to a full public consultation process.

Against all of these criteria the MPS has decided that Wanstead Flats is the most viable location for such a centre.

Why can’t you use the Olympic Park as a briefing centre?

Whilst officers will be deployed on duties relating to the Olympics, the vast majority of officers across London will not be deployed within the Olympic Park itself. Therefore it does not make sense to take officers into the park to brief them, only then to bus them out again to other parts of London for their policing duties.

The Park itself will have very tight security and controlled access, and it would just be too complicated and time consuming to do this. Neither does the site have enough space for briefing centre of this kind.

Centralising briefing facilities is not only tried and tested as being operationally the most effective but they are also cost effective. It also minimises the pressure on your local police facilities, allowing them to get on with day to day policing activity

What other options apart from Wanstead Flats did you consider?

A number of other options were carefully considered but Wanstead Flats remains the most viable location. This formed part of the Met's planning application to Redbridge council.

Is there a fallback site if you don’t get the planning permission?

Fall back arrangements always form part of our planning, but there are no alternative sites under active development at this stage.

Environmental Concerns

Will the briefing centre be in the Site of Specific Scientific Interest?

No. The briefing centre will be outside of the boundary for the Site of Specific Scientific Interest. We are also aware of the potential to extend this boundary and have taken measures to include a buffer zone, specifically to protect the area should the boundary be extended.

How noisy will the site be?

The site layout has been designed to minimise noise. This will be assisted by the surrounding 3.4m high fence and the tree line (which will be in full leaf) in screening noise. The distance from the proposed site boundary to the rear elevation of the nearest properties to the south of the briefing centre site is approximately 100m.

How will you light the site?

Low level lighting is proposed. They will be down lighters with horizontal cut-off and combined with the 3.4m temporary fence will minimise obtrusive light spillage or glare to the surrounding area.

Will you have generators?

Yes. It is our intention to connect the site to mains power; however generators will be needed for temporary use to provide additional resilience and auxiliary power during peak periods. The generators we would use are designated as ‘super silent’ and are designed specifically for use in residential areas.

How will you manage drainage?

Wherever possible we tap into existing drainage and utility connections. If this is not possible, all drainage will be collected and taken away from the site.

How have you considered the environment in your plans?

The site will be securely fenced and located away from the SSI site to the north and the Jubilee Pond to the south west to ensure that these areas are not disturbed by activity within the temporary centre. Habitats of nature conservation value are outside the proposed boundary of the briefing centre and will remain untouched.

We have commissioned a full independent habitat survey to ensure that we minimise disruption to the site and any wildlife. In addition, the following environmental measures will be put in place to minimise the risk of damage to the site;

· Areas of the site which are already semi-compacted will be used for operational vehicle parking and where necessary existing surfaces will be protected by way of temporary track way.
· The distance from the proposed site boundary to the tree belt to the south is at least 25m. The site enclosure and distance to the trees will ensure they are protected and the temporary perimeter fence panel system will be surface mounted, therefore further reducing the risk of tree root damage. This has been confirmed by a tree specialist.
· Current walk ways and cycle routes will be kept accessible where possible, and it has been agreed that the track used for horse riders will remain undisrupted and where tracking crosses the pathway measure will be put in place to minimise impact.

The Habitat report which will form part of our planning application is available here

How high will the fence be around the perimeter?
A 3.4m temporary fence will be erected around the site, consisting of panels bolted together and supported with stays pinned in the ground. The fence will be surface mounted and painted green to minimise its visual impact. We have consulted a tree specialist to ensure the proposed fence reduces the risk of tree root damage.

Will people be able to see into the site?
No, the fence will be solid around the entire site which will assist with reducing noise and light disturbance to the surrounding area.

How close is the site to the nearest housing?
The distance from the proposed site boundary to the rear elevation of the nearest properties to the south is approximately 100m.

Who manages the site?
The MPS will run the site. An Operational Support Event Manager will be on-site daily (and contactable on a 24/7 basis) throughout installation, the Games period, and dismantling. This manager will provide a single point of contact for any local issues or concerns arising from the temporary briefing centre.

Will Jubilee Pond be affected or closed during the operation of the briefing centre?
No. The Jubilee Pond to the south west of the proposal is unaffected by the development and will remain open for people to use throughout.

How will it impact upon footpaths or bridleways?
The base will occupy just a small area of Wanstead Flats. The rest of the Flats will remain open and free for local residents and others to enjoy. Access will be maintained across Wanstead Flats between Centre Road and Lake House Road.

Has any assessment been carried out on the area to check there are no unique habitats there?
The area within the proposed site boundary comprises improved and semi-improved grassland and has been assessed as having no significant wildlife value and does not provide suitable habitat for protected species.

Habitats of nature conservation value are outside the development area boundary and will remain untouched. We will also ensure that all of our activities are designed to minimise impact to the habitat. For example, we will lay temporary trackway for vehicles to minimise damage to the ground.

How can we be sure that you will reinstate the site to its original condition?

The MPS has a number of years experience in constructing and managing temporary briefing centres such as these. We use a professional contractor to build and dismantle the site, and we will take all necessary measures to protect the ground and vegetation at the site. We will work with the Corporation of London to ensure that the land is restored back to its original condition.

Traffic Management of Site

Where are the entrance and exit?

The entrance and exit both use the existing access from Centre Road.

The majority of activity and movements will be planned and organised to minimise the impact on other road users. Unless responding to an incident or an emergency, the police will not take priority over other road users.

We are not proposing any road closures.

What route will the traffic take coming to and from the site?

Traffic will primarily use the A12, where the Olympic Route Network will be in operation, to get to and from the site and to and from the Stratford area. The traffic will use the Green Man Roundabout, Bush Hall Road and then Centre Road to access the briefing centre.

How many vehicles will come and go during the day?

It is not possible to give the exact number of vehicles at the current time, as we are still planning our policing operation. However, due to the nature of the operation, the vehicle movements will be spread across the day, with the peak period expected to be between 2pm and 6pm. They will also vary considerably between the few peak days there will be at the height of the Games and the rest of the time.

What impact will the Briefing Centre have on the local road network?

A transport assessment has been prepared to provide information to support the application planning in consultation with Redbridge Council and Transport for London. This includes traffic counts and junction assessments.

Have you considered the congestion that there is already on Centre Road – are you sure you will be able to get in and out of the base as you needed to?

Initial scoping of the traffic highlights that our peak times for traffic movements are at our shift changeovers which fall outside of current traffic peak hours. The timing of the Olympics over the school holidays is also anticipated to result in lower levels of traffic due to the lack of school runs.

Details about the site

When will the briefing centre be in use?

The temporary briefing centre will be in use 24/7 although the majority of activity will take place during daylight hours before, during and after events with minimal staff overnight. The level of activity will be influenced by the events timetable over the Olympic period. Activity would start in June 2012 with the assembly and will finish in September 2012 after the Paralympics. The site will only be occupied for around 90 days.

Will there be horses on site?

The current proposal is for some horses to be stabled on the site. We are aware that the figure 80 is being discussed. This is not the case, but we cannot give exact numbers at this stage as to the planning still on-going.

Will the horses be exercised on the Flats?

The Metropolitan Police does not exercise its horses in this way. Horses and riders are deployed on operations or patrols and this is the method of exercise.

Will there be dogs?

As specialist officers such as dog handlers will use the site, police search dogs will accompany their handlers to the site. No dogs will be kenneled overnight.

Will there be helicopters landing at the site?

There are no plans for police helicopters to use the site.

Will people who are arrested by officers using the briefing centre be detained on the site?

No. There will be no custody provision on the site and anyone arrested will be taken to existing custody facilities in London as is common in all our current policing operations.

How will it impact upon users of the Flats?

The temporary briefing centre will occupy just a small area of Wanstead Flats. The rest of the Flats will remain open and free for local residents and others to enjoy. The proposed site is 3.5 hectares, which is 2% of the total area of Wanstead Flats.

How can we be sure that you will be leaving the site?

The proposed amendment to the Epping Forest Act 1878, via a proposed Legislative Reform Order, will be strictly limited to the unique policing need in the summer of 2012. No lasting powers relating to Wanstead Flats or Epping Forest will be conferred on the Police or any other bodies. The Epping Forest Act 1878 will revert back to its full protection at the end.

The proposed LRO is subject to a separate 12 week consultation run by the Home Office. Their consultation is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Consultation Process

Why did it take you so long to produce any information about the proposals?

When we identified Wanstead Flats as a potential site, we had initial discussions with the City of London Corporation, as trustees of the land, and the Government about the best way to allow for the build of a temporary centre whilst protecting the Flats. The suggested proposal was a temporary amendment to the Epping Forest Act, 1878, through a time limited Legislative Reform Order (LRO). The LRO will ensure that the Act reverts back to its full protection at the end of the period.

Until we had confirmation from Government that such an approach (which is subject to a twelve week public consultation) would be suitable, it was not appropriate for us to release further details about our proposals.

The City of London Corporation has given support to the plans in principle, pending a full public consultation being undertaken.

As soon as we were able to share more detailed proposals and plans, we gave as much information as we could to alleviate many of the concerns which local people have and to take such concerns into account in our application process.

What Consultation are you doing about the proposals?

The Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Corporation have met with representatives from users of the flats to understand their concerns and issues. This was to allow us to inform residents and users about our plans but also give them the information that they wanted. This meeting was for an invited group to facilitate an understanding of our plans and their concerns.

A series of public exhibitions about the proposal were held in August and September 2010. A detailed website outlining the proposals can be viewed at www.wanstead-mbdc.co.uk.

Following this public consultation, a planning application was submitted to Redbridge Council. Planning permission was granted at the Council's Regulatory Committee on 24 February 2011 subject to conditions. The decision notice and full list of conditions can be viewed on the Council's website.

Finally, the Home Office are consulting concerning the way in which the legislation will be temporarily amended through a proposed Legislation Reform Order. Their consultation is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

The MPS will seek to create a working group involving residents and users aimed at helping the police to resolve and manage any issues relating to the site.

Isn’t this a done deal?

No. We have consulted prior to submitting a planning application to Redbridge Council. We have decided on our preferred site and these plans will be subject to planning permission and a temporary change in legislation, via a proposed Legislation Reform Order, to allow a temporary fence to be put up around the temporary centre.

Why is the Met’s consultation so short?

There are a number of different ways for people to ask questions and raise any concerns which they may have.

The Met has consulted with local people ahead of submitting a planning application to Redbridge Council and gave people over 6 1/2 weeks to view information about proposals and submit their comments. However, this is not the only opportunity for people to comment on the proposals.A planning application to Redbridge Council was submitted and through usual planning rules, made available for the public to view and comment further on the proposals ahead of any decision by the planning authority.

There is a separate consultation by the Home Office concerning the temporary amendment to the legislation. This commenced on 16 September and is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Why is there no planned consultation based at Forest Gate which is closer to the site than Wanstead or Cann Hall Road?

We consulted locally over the choice of venues. However, based on feedback from local people we added an additional public exhibition in Forest Gate. The dates of all five public exhibitions were:


Wednesday 25 August
4.00pm – 8.00pm
Cherry Tree Café, 25 Woodbine PlaceWanstead, E11 2RH

Saturday 4 September
10.00am – 4.00pm
Cherry Tree Café, 25 Woodbine PlaceWanstead, E11 2RH

Thursday 9 September
6.45pm - 8.30pm
Durning Hall, Earlham Grove, London E7 9AB

Saturday 11 September
10.00am – 4.00pm
Cann Hall Road Methodist Church, 296 Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone, E11 3NN

Thursday 16 September
4.00pm – 8.00pm
Cann Hall Road Methodist Church, 296 Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone, E11 3NN

 

How can I comment on the proposals?

The Met's public consultation about the proposals has now closed and a planning application was submitted to Redbridge council. Planning permission was granted at the Council's Regulatory Committee on 24 February 2011 subject to conditions. The decision notice and full list of conditions can be viewed on the Council's website. If you want to contact the Met, you can do so at Communityrelationsteam@olympics.pnn.police.uk

 

Security

How big a terrorist target or security risk will the site at Wanstead Park be?

There is nothing to suggest that the presence of police support facilities in London for the Olympics will increase the threat of a terrorist attack.

London, and the UK, is currently at the threat level of severe. All of our planning for the safety and security operation in 2012 is being carried out against this backdrop. Olympic sites and venues will be individually risk assessed and the right level of security put in place, if it is needed.

The briefing centre will have a dedicated public liaison officer, who during the time the centre is running will be responsible for dealing with any issues local people may have relating to the police presence on the site.

As the UK is currently at a national threat level of severe we would encourage any member of the public that if they see something they believe to be suspicious to report it to police. There is a dedicated hotline number for matters relating to suspected terrorism - 0800 789 321.

As well as the temporary perimeter fence will there be an exclusion zone around the site?

No, the perimeter fence will be the standard boundary of the site. However as you would expect security measures will be under constant review and there may be occasions where there needs to be a change and we will ensure that we communicate any changes to local residents and users.

Funding of site

How much are you paying the City of London Corporation?

We are paying a rent based on the commercial valuation for a site of this size and location for the period associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The agreed sum available for the City of London Corporation to distribute amounts to £170,000.

This money will be used by the City Corporation to improve facilities. Part of the consultation process allows you to help suggest areas for this work.

How did you reach this sum?

This sum was reached in agreement with the City of London Corporation, who are the trustees of the land. It was based on independent valuations and assessments of the specific area of land by Corporation of London surveyors and Met Surveyors.

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