London,
02
September
2009
|
23:00
Europe/London

Hackney estate’s car park goes green for a day

Free bike check ups, films, music and gardening demonstrations are some of the activities taking place on Whiston and Goldsmiths Estate in Hackney on Saturday 19 September, when the car park is transformed into a Green for a Day as part of European Mobility Week (16-22 September).

Residents of the Estate, along with Hackney Council and Hackney Homes, have been working with the two young architects from TICArchitecture behind the Green for a Day event.

The event is being held in a car park to encourage people to look at spaces set aside for car parking in our cities and think about what alternative uses can be made of them; for example as a social space to read, eat and play or for planting a garden. Everyone is welcome to attend.

European Mobility Week is a week dedicated to environmentally friendly ways to travel. It is celebrated in cities all around Europe and aims to encourage people to recognise that there are cleaner, greener, cheaper and more efficient alternatives to the private motor car, including walking, cycling, public transport, car clubs and car sharing.

Councillor Alan Laing, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “The Council is committed to green travel and aims to support and encourage all those who live, work and study in Hackney to move greener. This event will showcase a range of green activities to demonstrate how everyone can do their bit to help make the borough a greener, cleaner place.”

The car park in Whiston and Goldsmiths Estate was chosen as it is part of the Hackney Homes’ Green Estate initiative. The event may have long-lasting effects as the residents are being asked if they would like one of the car parking spaces to be permanently reallocated as a small garden.

Hackney has already added to its success of being recognised as the 2009 London Transport Borough of the Year with more sustainable transport journeys than any other London borough.

More work travel trips are taken by bicycle than any other London borough, with Hackney experiencing greater numbers of women cycling than men, a reverse situation to other boroughs.

To find out more about the event visit the Council’s website: www.hackney.gov.uk/movegreener