Clissold Park User Group Newsletter

The meetings of the group are the main forum for airing public concerns about the way the Park is funded, managed and developed in the future. Whatever your main interest in the Park (playground, children, trees, wildlife, fun, football, tennis, running…) you can influence future developments.

We have a circulation list of around 300 who receive our regular newsletters and notifications of our meetings by email.
» Email: clissoldpug@googlemail.com if you would like to be added to our mailing list

Next Meeting
Saturday 3rd March 2012, 11am to 12 noon at The Mansion House, Clissold Park.

Meeting Minutes of 14th January 2012

Attendance
Caroline Millar (Chair), John Hudson (Sec.), Richard Logan (Vice Chair), Mark Forsyth (Dog owners rep) Cllr Daniel Stevens, Eleanor Johnson, Park Manager, Emma Finch, events manager and 40 other park users.
Apologies: David Woodhead, Assitant Director of Health and Wellbeing LBH; Ken Worpole,Hon. President; Linda Smith, Councillor.

Comments/Action points in italics.

Actions from previous meeting
The toilets are still closing too early this will continue to be followed up.

There are now four pictorial signs on each lake informing people not to feed bread to the ducks.

The pole and overhead wire are still in situ, awaiting BT action.

There are still not enough rubbish bins; more are to be put in place. Café rubbish bins are overfull each day. EJ said that café management is meeting with waste contractors to resolve this.

EJ will meet with an aviary specialist about the aviary mesh being too dense to see the birds.

Metal side panels for the bridge are on their way after contractor delay.

Gate closers and planting around the terrace are needed to stop dogs getting into the dog free area.

Wheel park repairs have been effective so far. Skateboarders confirmed that work in the bowls on water ingress and grip had worked.
Signage is needed for parents and children to take more care around the skate bowls.

The plans for tennis court lighting had been withdrawn because of concerns about conservation. New proposals will be submitted by the tennis club. Jan Coombs from the club made it clear that to be viable it needs to run a full 12 months a year including winter evenings and if the lighting plan fails it will have to leave Clissold park. It is now one of the country’s top clubs and must continue – it is a very valuable resource for local people.

Park Manager’s Report
EJ is the interim manager managing the whole park – the house, gardens and the rangers.
There is still work to complete on the park, but the focus is on how the park will be used and increasing involvement. This will be fundamental to the success of the HLF project.
An interpretation officer will be appointed to help in this, partly by outreach work to schools, older people and others.

There has been a lot of interest in booking rooms in the House. There are two rates – commercial and community. These will be put onto the council’s website.

Access to the House is still a major issue. Park users aren’t shown where the entrance to the lift is or how to reach the ground floor toilets from the café.

JH – CPUG were involved in the selection of the Company of Cooks (CoC). The café looks impressive, is professionally run and of a high quality.
But it is not accessible or affordable enough.

Many park users think that prices are too high and the menu range too small. Quick, inexpensive snacks like baked potato, chips, simple sandwiches and no-frills drinks are being called for by many park users – a view strongly supported by the meeting. The needs of children and teenagers need to be recognised. The cafe is no longer an environment in which young teenagers feel comfortable. Both café serveries and the Pump House are now open although the Pump House is not yet operating full hours. Other ‘outposts’ serving drinks and snacks are being considered for the playground and paddling pool.

Dog Walkers cannot get takeaway items, because these are only available from the café in the terrace dog-free area.
The Pump House needs to open earlier to serve dog walkers.

EJ said that the current menu is introductory and user feedback to the cafe is wanted, using comment cards.
Cards with larger print were requested.
CoC have a five year contract which includes powers for the Council to address issues such as price, menu and cafe management.
CPUG will be working with the Council to work out the best way to ensure people’s views about the cafe are recorded and taken on board and people do not feel excluded.

One user warned that someone locally may be poisoning foxes which could endanger pets.

Safer Neighbourhood police reported that there had been one robbery reported in the park in the last three months. The police urged users to report all incidents.

Next meeting on 3 March: AGM at which officers will be elected. All nominations to be emailed to the user group by 24 February 2012.

Contacts
Park Rangers: 0208 3566834. This connects to a mobile.
Interim Park Manager: Eleanor.Johnson@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 4215
Café Company of Cooks): clissoldhouse@companyofcooks.com
Room booking and house tours (GLL): emma.finch@gll.com or call 07772 223 275
Council Officer for Parks: Colin.stuart@hackney.go.uk
Lead Councillor for Parks: jonathan.mcshane@hackney.gov.uk
Police: 0208 721 2923 / 07879 603106 / Clissold.snt@met.police.uk
Seargent in charge: Sue Wright Sue.C.Wright@met.pnn.police.uk

To join Clissold Park Users Group
Contact clissoldpug@googlemail.com and browse this website - or join our Facebook Group - or just come to the meetings!