|
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
11 Aug 2004 - 31 Dec 2004 Diana Memorial to re-open Hyde Park The water for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain will be turned back on tomorrow, 12th August, and the Memorial will be re-opened to the public on 20th August 2004. Due to its popularity, public access to the site will be actively managed and people will be asked not to walk or run in the water of the Memorial. There will be additional staff on site to assist visitors, as well as clear signs setting out common sense "dos and don'ts". The Memorial was closed on 22nd July after three consecutive slippage incidents in a specific area of the Memorial. The design and construction teams were called in by The Royal Parks and asked for advice. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), who had given advice during the design stage and before the opening, was asked for its views. Using this expert input a report was drafted on possible new management systems and additional operational features. This report was discussed in detail with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and the following decisions were made: - The water will be turned on from Thursday 12th August, so that visitors can see the Memorial in action prior to the full reopening on Friday 20th August. - A significant area (approximately a hectare or 10,000 m2) around the Memorial will be marked out by temporary fencing, with gates to allow management of numbers entering the site. This will have additional benefits for security, especially the safety of young children. - Visitors will be able to paddle their feet and dabble their hands in the water of the fountain but will be asked not to walk or run through the water. - There will be six dedicated staff supervising the site in summer and three in winter depending on need. The staff will all be trained in first aid and crowd management. - There will be clear signage explaining the management of the Memorial to the public. - There will be a period in late October or early November (subject to local authority planning processes) where planned maintenance work on the turf and Memorial itself will be completed. The timing is intended to minimise disruption to public enjoyment of the Memorial and also is the appropriate time for the landscape and horticultural work to be done. - All these measures, including the temporary fencing and visitor management systems, will be kept under a rolling review as visitor patterns change. Greg McErlean, Head of Major Projects for The Royal Parks and responsible for co-ordinating the report, said, "The key issue we faced was the sheer number of visitors. Two weeks ago we called in designers, engineers and health & safety experts. These discussions led everyone to conclude that we had to manage people's interaction with the Memorial so that people would sit on the side and dabble their hands and feet but not walk, or in some cases run, around in it. We want people to come and experience the Memorial safely and happily." Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, said, "The Diana Memorial Fountain is as unique as it is beautiful. It has attracted thousands of visitors from around the globe, and while I am delighted with this extraordinary popularity, I also believe that it is at the root of the Memorial's recent teething problems. "Today's announcement is about a change in the way that the Memorial is managed. I am happy with the practical measures put forward by the Royal Parks in consultation with RoSPA and the designers, and I am delighted that the Memorial will soon re-open for everyone to enjoy as a special place of relaxation and remembrance." Peter Cornall of RoSPA said, "RoSPA has been working closely with The Royal Parks to ensure that when the Memorial opens again we've all done our best to make it as safe as possible. One of our main recommendations was for active management and monitoring of the site and this has alerted the Parks to the need for other changes that are now being put in place." - ENDS - Source: The Royal Parks For further information contact: The Royal Parks Press Office T: 020 7298 2128 E: press@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk Editor's notes: Signage: Signs will be placed at the entrance to the Memorial giving directions to nearby toilets, baby changing facilities and the Lido children's paddling pool (all some 75 metres to the east); as well as the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk. The signage will also ask visitors: - To respect the fact that this is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales. - Not to walk or run in the waters of the Memorial, as there is a risk of slipping. Feel free to sit on the side to paddle your feet or hands. - To refrain from taking dogs into the Memorial site (Guide Dogs excepted). - To avoid using glassware near the Memorial. Broken glass poses a hazard to children and adults alike. - To take care not to drop food or litter into the Memorial. - To take your litter with you when you leave. - To play any ball games away from the Memorial. The signage will also ask parents and guardians to ensure that they actively supervise their children. Algae and water quality: The Design Team always recognised that wherever there is water, algae has the potential to build up. They therefore chose a low nutrient water source (from a 140m deep bore) as well as a regular and thorough cleaning program (Monday morning, 7.00-10.30am) to stop this occurring. To date, despite a number of very sunny days with heavy usage, there has been no algal build up. The water of the Memorial has tested by independent experts and has passed the standards of the EU Bathing Water Directive, which applies to all beaches and inland water bodies where people swim. Opening Times: January 10.00 to 16.00 February 10.00 to 16.00 March 10.00 to 18.00 April 10.00 to 20.00 May 9.00 to 21.00 June 9.00 to 21.00 July 9.00 to 21.00 August 9.00 to 20.00 September 9.00 to 19.00 October 10.00 to 18.00 November 10.00 to 16.00 December 10.00 to 16.00 * On Mondays the water will be turned off until 10.30 due to cleaning. On the fourth Monday of every month additional cleaning of the main water tank means the water will be turned off until 12.00. ** To ensure smooth running the Memorial's water will be turned off for 20 minutes every afternoon to allow filters to be cleared. |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
 |
||||||||
