Tower Hamlets Council addressed a petition regarding safety concerns surrounding a new cricket square in Victoria Park during a council meeting on Wednesday. The petition, titled Stop the Unnecessary Dangerous FIFTH Cricket Pitch Coming to Victoria Park!, calls for the council to halt the installation of the new cricket square or relocate it to one of the existing pitches, citing potential dangers to park users.

It appears the petition is in response to the installation of a new cricket square, which, according to Councillor Kamal Hussain, Cabinet Member for Cultural Recreation, will bring the total number of cricket locations in the park to four. These include three non-turf cricket pitches and one fine-turf cricket square, which incorporates an additional non-turf pitch.

Peter Nash presented the petition, emphasizing the need for public responsibility concerning family access to parks and safety. He expressed concerns about the proximity of the new cricket pitch to pedestrian paths, stating, The new sightings have no side of protection to the cricket pitch onto the paths. Nash stated that the other cricket pitches in Victoria Park have nettings and a pavilion, which provide a buffer, but the new cricket pitch has no such protection.

Councillor Kamal Hussain responded to the petition, clarifying that there are no plans for a fifth cricket pitch. He stated that the pitch near St. Mark's Gate fully complies with the minimum dimensions required for recreational cricket, as certified by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Councillor Hussain stated, The council has worked closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board, ECB Middlesex Cricket and Labo Sports to ensure that this pitch meets all necessary standards. It is also approved for league cricket in England.

According to Councillor Hussain, The minimum distance from the pitch to the footpath is more than 45 years, which exceeds safety requirements.1

The petition has been referred to the Corporate Director for Communities for a written response within 28 days.

The full discussion can be found in the Council meeting transcript.

1 It is unclear what data or risk assessment was used to determine that 45 meters is a safe distance from the pitch to the footpath.