Storms, floods, fires and overstretched staff are now among the biggest threats facing West Ham Park, a committee has heard.
After the heatwaves of summer 2026, the risk of “Adverse impacts of extreme weather and climate change” at the park has been raised to “Red 16, Likely/Major”. The West Ham Park Committee heard this in an update on the park’s risk management.
The heatwaves showed how likely climate change is to affect the park’s social, ecological and physical environment, and how big that impact could be. The park is worried about more frequent and severe storms, rainfall and drought, which can bring about storm and wind damage, flooding and fires.
Officers noted that while the likelihood of extreme weather cannot be reduced, actions are being taken to mitigate its impact. An Extreme Weather Procedure is already in place and has been used to close the park during high winds. It will be reviewed by March 2027. The park is also replacing plants with species better suited to current and future climate conditions, such as drought-tolerant varieties.
Alongside environmental challenges, the pressure is also falling on the people who run the park. “Work related stress” has also been rated a “RED 16, Likely/Major” risk. There are not enough staff to keep up with growing demand for services, and staff have been working extra, unpaid hours as a result. There is a particular need for more management staff.
Senior management is working to address these pressures through various actions, including seeking additional funding and providing support for staff, the report said. Senior managers liaise with HR and the occupational health service to provide support for staff, and Stress Risk Assessments are considered where appropriate. The intention is to have one qualified Mental Health First Aider in each team. A new gardener was appointed in October 2026, but the Head Gardener is due to retire in March 2027, with recruitment underway. Business cases have been prepared to secure additional core grant funding, with some initial success in health and safety, including funding for an additional arborist.
Discussions also touched upon the need for improved communication regarding the park's challenges, with members suggesting a clearer articulation of the long-term implications of climate change and the status quo of risks, rather than focusing solely on extreme events. The committee emphasised the importance of balancing the duty of care to staff with the park's wider ambitions and exploring creative income generation opportunities. Maximising income from services and fundraising are being undertaken to generate income, and officers have suggested organising site visits to highlight income generation examples.
