Mayor's �6m for parks clean-up

Boris Johnson promised to improve the environment in his election manifesto

Londoners are being given the chance to vote for their local park to win a share of �6m for a much-needed revamp.

Mayor Boris Johnson is pledging the money as part of a programme to clean up and improve rundown "green" areas.

Mr Johnson scrapped the mayor's official newsletter, The Londoner, to fund the Priority Parks project and a major tree planting scheme in London.

An online poll will help decide which green spaces are to benefit from the scheme over the next four years.

The money will also finance the planting of 10,000 trees across 40 areas, which Mr Johnson said would improve thousands of Londoners' lives.

Reduce crime

It is hoped improvements, such as more lighting, entrances and litter bins, will boost local communities and make neighbourhoods safer.

The mayor said: "By cancelling The Londoner newspaper, we will instead be able to inject much-needed money into improving the most neglected parks and gardens across London.

"This will have a host of benefits, not only making these areas more pleasant places to spend time, but also helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Londoners know best which areas are most deserving of this cash boost, so I am going to ask them to vote for the places they want to see become greener and cleaner."

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