Current News
June 2009

The May meeting brought a number of concerns about dogs and dog policy in the park. We are pressing the Council to consult widely on the issue and come up with some proposals for clarifying the best way forward to keep dog owners and other park users happy - or at least as happy as they can be.

With regard to the lottery bid, the final notification of the successful (as we certainly hope) award of the grant is now expected from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery at the end of June this year (2009). If that happens then it is expected that contractors will be appointed by late October 2009, with work to start on 10 January 2010.

It is not going to be pretty. Ponds will be drained and dredged, spoil will be moving around the park in dumper trucks, portakabins will appear no doubt in all sorts of places, and excavators will be digging out the new extension of the (old) New River. The mansion will be closed for extensive repairs and refurbishment.

On the controversial issue of the terrace to Clissold Mansion, more detailed drawings and visual impressions of how the new arrangements will look are currently being completed, which may go some way to allaying fears about loss of seating in key places. Let's hope so.

Keep an eye on the park noticeboards for more updated news.

Next meeting is on Saturday, 4 July, at 11 am in the Red Room, Clissold Mansion.
See you there.