FOCP

Here your chance to have your say what you would like to have in Central Park
 
The Friends of Central Park Plymouth are holding a stand outside the Life Centre between 10.00 am and 4.30 pm on Wednesday 29th July to hear what people feel about the park and what changes they would like to see.  There will be a short survey to fill in and free badges so please come and see us there.

T&G

PS you do not need to be a dog walk to attend

Chance to name your favourite part of Plymouth's Central Park

Some name were suggested, for HHP, Brent No Way Road, No Money Lane and Bucket Rattle Av.


CENTRAL Park aficionados want to see a lake created in the city’s largest area of green land - as envisaged in the masterplan when the park was first created.

The Friends of Central Park have been gathering people’s views on the recreational space as park of the national Love Parks week, requesting ideas for naming parts of the area.

The group has been asking park users how they would like to see the park change and what names they have for the different lanes and entrances to the park, which was established in 1928.


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I'd love to see a big lake in central park, the only thing missing if you discount the drain sump at Barn Park end. Nothing like watching dragonflies hovering and fish rolling and rising on a summers evening.

Iggy wrote:

I'd love to see a big lake in central park, the only thing missing if you discount the drain sump at Barn Park end. Nothing like watching dragonflies hovering and fish rolling and rising on a summers evening.

Quote

while most people wanted to see the lake made a reality, fewer than half of respondents knew that there used to be a stream running through the area described as Dingley Dell

Dingley Dell was a favourite name for the valley that runs between the entrances at Barn Park and by the bottom of Ford Park cemetery

(FOCP would like to reinstate the stream aswel.)

Tgwu wrote:

Iggy wrote:

I'd love to see a big lake in central park, the only thing missing if you discount the drain sump at Barn Park end. Nothing like watching dragonflies hovering and fish rolling and rising on a summers evening.

Quote

while most people wanted to see the lake made a reality, fewer than half of respondents knew that there used to be a stream running through the area described as Dingley Dell

Dingley Dell was a favourite name for the valley that runs between the entrances at Barn Park and by the bottom of Ford Park cemetery

(FOCP would like to reinstate the stream aswel.)

The Dingley Dell would be the obvious spot to do it, (never knew it was called that btw) the stream could feed the lake and run out of it, anyone who has witnessed the flooding down there can see its a naturally wet spot, a reed bed at the end of the lake would naturally clean the runoff from the park as well, try the environment agency or natural England (whatever they call these quangos these days) and see if there are any grants available, flood prevention could be one angle to draw down funding as well as the habitat creation angle. I'd be happy to donate some living willow, it could be used to make a living dam or some some willow arbours or sculptures.

Iggy click on the survey link and put in you idea's to the committee.

The survey is available to complete online by visiting.   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]   and clicking on Visitor Survey in the top bar.


For projects FOCP plans to push for, click on link below


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Will do.

The plans are in todays Herald

Zoo field in the plan were to be a orchard, until Brent were given a piece of the field,  We had £17,000 in grants and added £1.700 of FOCP money. The Council took it to replace other trees in the park, half the tree died and some of the species were the wrong ones for the area they put them in.

Hoping to get the money back from the Council.


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Centre Park needs the same.

Plymouth

PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL FORM 45 COMMONSACT 2006 – SECTION 15(1) Notice of an Application for the Registration of Land as a Town or Village Green
To: Every reputed owner, lessee, tenant or occupier of any part of the land described below, and to all others whom it may concern Application Reference: PL/22153/JP An application has been made to PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL at THE COUNCIL HOUSE, PLYMOUTH PL1 2EW by Christopher Tillotson Brown (on behalf of Stoke Damerel Conservation Society) of 14 Wellington Street Plymouth PL1 5NZ, Nigel Anthony Theyer of 7 Albemarle Villas Plymouth PL1 5QZ, Michael William Gallagher (on behalf of the Friends of Devonport Park) of 82 Granby Street Plymouth PL1 4BN and Simon Willis of 4 Stopford Place Plymouth PL1 4QT under Section 15(1) of the Commons Act 2006 and in accordance with the Commons (Registration of Town or Village Greens) (Interim Arrangements) (England) Regulation 2007.

The application seeks the inclusion in the register in town and village greens of the land described in the Schedule below which is claimed to have qualified for registration as a town or village green the land has been used in excess of 20 years for unrestricted use by a significant number of inhabitants in the area for lawful sports and pastimes and they continue to do so. The application papers, which include a plan of the land proposed for registration may be inspected at the First Stop Reception desk at 71 New George Street Plymouth between 8.30am and 5.00pm on Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays and excluding Thursdays) between 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Thursdays and between 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Saturdays. If the registration authority is satisfied that the land described below qualifies for registration as a town or village green, it will so register the land.

Any person wishing to object to the registration of the land as a town or village green should send a statement of the facts on which the objection is based to LEGAL SERVICES, PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL, WINDSOR HOUSE, TAVISTOCK ROAD, PLYMOUTH PL6 5UF or if the objection is to be hand delivered to LEGAL SERVICES, PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL, BALLARD HOUSE, WEST HOE ROAD, PLYMOUTH PL1 3BJ on or before 30 October 2015. Any representations that are to be taken into account by the Authority in reaching a decision on the application cannot be treated as confidential and will be copied to the applicants for comment and may be disclosed to other interested parties. Dated 17th day of September 2015. David Shepperd, Head of Legal

Green Taverners had made a planning application to use Loves Field for vehicles 32 times a year for car boot sales. Concern was expressed this would lead ultimately to tarmacing, due to the soft ground there. Members were asked to write in separately. Include name address and application no. 15/01595/FUL, to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or write to Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Floor 2 Ballard Hse W.Hoe Rd PL1 3BJ.

FOCP are opposing this application

Thanks for that Tg. And so Brent's ultimate desire to creep further into the park carry on with the help of a few sycophantic fans with no regard for the park whatsoever, just as envisaged all along. A low level incursion to create a precedent, and of course hard surfacing at some stage leading to who knows what.

And of course, Loves Field makes the important long term bridge between Home Park and the council depot that is closing and on into the cricket ground land etc bought by guess who. And not such awful access problems as the HHP site.
And the council are fencing off part of the park near the Post office sorting office, where there are proposals to steal even more of the park for "wrap around housing". There will be nothing left of the park in 50 years if these people have their way.

I always said back when brent was telling anyone who would listen that he wouldnt build on loves field when the trust pitched their better alternative hhp to him because he had his eye on building something else on there in future. This motion that they want to use the field as a car park is a smoke screen for something else he has in mind.

hope it gets rejected there are enough car park spaces for a bootsale in the capark now sod the gt's.

CORRECTION TO MINUTES‏

It should be [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Angry wrote:

I always said back when brent was telling anyone who would listen that he wouldnt build on loves field when the trust pitched their better alternative hhp to him because he had his eye on building something else on there in future.

I've been saying it for years Angry. Makes far more sense for a property speculator to try and build stuff near Outland Road, and right next to the land Stapleton and others own (Wrathall  as well ? that would be interesting, being a current board member and investor )
It's a long haul for Brent to get permissions, but he's in no hurry, he's still in land banking mode. It is a bit difficult sometimes to guess Brent's intentions, as he's not really very good at what he does.

The housing proposals, helped by an ex council worker, at the south of the park, are trying it on in about 3 years time, once various sweeteners are provided. It's amazing how new park facilities go up all of a sudden in these austere times, when they have an eye for selling off a bit of their land to private hands as part of the "improvement".

More work by the FOCP, no help from the Council


2500 crocus bulbs have at last arrived as result of the 2014 Green Space Challenge, for planting at the Barn Park end.Sessions are suggested 10am and 2pm Wed 25th Nov and Thu 26th - sorry its short notice.
Rotavating requested from PCC has not been possible, seems best to bring longhandled fork if you can come,
digging one sod at a time putting in 5 bulbs and trowelful of grit (which has been supplied) and replacing


FOCP

DEVONPORT residents have been urged to speak up if they want to protect the community's green spaces.

Plymouth City Council is calling on people throughout the city to tell them about the parks and orchards they want to see preserved as the city develops.

The initiative is part of a consultation as the council continues to devise the Plymouth Plan – its vision for how the city will look in the future.

Since part one of the plan stated that 22,700 homes will be built in the city between now and 2031, housing developers have started marking potential building sites.

Wendy Hart, who chaired the The Park Pavilion Cafe meeting, urged people to ensure they have their say before it's too late

Read more: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Extract from last meeting

2. MATTERS FROM LAST

The outstanding grant-paid for tree work Included surgery, canopy lifting and conifer felling.
Payments for events had only been described as Revenue Account. Gerald to follow up.
Local Green Space application still awaiting decision as other parks involved.
Chelsea grant (actually Yorkshire BS Charitable Foundation) tools could be obtained when Barn Park store handed to us. Barbara and Liz would take this on. Sharing with PTP will mean our tools have to be clearly identified.
The clock has now been repaired, costing nearly £4000 (although this might include a similar clock on Hoe).
Martin Leaves’ intention to allocate funding for a floral scheme is appreciated and further advice is being sought, including the amount.

3.a. WALK-ROUND WITH BOCA MANAGER The summary of actions from May 5th (copied below) was discussed briefly. Regular walk-rounds were planned and members could join, by arrangement to limit to one or two.
3.b. SUGGESTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERING – would have to be weeding at the rockery, now badly needed.
4. PROJECTS – a. Following the Tesco Grant of £12k, Valley improvements have been surveyed. A letter from the Natural Infrastructure Officer was discussed and a reply to be sent. b. Postcode Local Trust secured £4k for PTP inc tool store, and c. potential/ pending bids for Gilbert Lane hedges, Sculpture Trail, Park drainage were being considered.
5. MASTERPLAN – no changes as far as we knew.
6. LOVE PARKS WEEK 15th – 24th July. We needed to think of an event.

You notice no money came from PCC and all grants and work to attain them was done by the FOCP and we have to supply our own tools to do any of the work.

PLYOUTH FRIENDS OF CENTRAL PARK

2015-16  Annual report

Summary of activities between 1st April 2015 and 31st March 2016

Meetings

Our regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month have discussed a range of topics including project updates, tree issues, links with Plymouth City Council managers, Beat Manager concerns and feedback from January’s Natural Infrastructure Conference.

Volunteer mornings

Meeting on the first Tuesday of every month, park volunteers have worked in the Valley to make it more inviting. Although relatively few have attended, usually between 4 and 6, they have weeded the rockery by the Ford Park entrance and planted it with drifts of heathers, lifted bramble patches encroaching on paths, swept accumulations of mud and leaves and cut ivy away from ornamental shrubs. Two additional sessions were held to plant naturalising crocuses around the new Magnolia by the Barn Park entrance.
The work has received many favourable comments from park visitors. It has also led to regular walk-rounds with PCC Street Cleansing and Grounds staff to agree joint approaches to maintenance issues.

Park improvement projects

Last year, we were consulted about the extension to Swarthmore Allotments and the connecting path from Holdsworth Street to Ford Park and the work has now been completed.
This year, we have sought to improve communications about major projects in the park’s masterplan, especially the Café Hub, Sports Plateau and Drainage since we have a role in representing user interests. This remains a priority for FoCPP as we are aware that PCC has undertaken site investigations and submitted a funding bid for drainage improvements. With the benefit of a proper dialogue, FoCPP will be better able to bid into complementary funding sources.

Having received funding in the first round of the Big Green Space Challenge, FoCPP was invited to apply for a second grant and we succeeded in securing £2,894 for new trees, heathers and crocuses, as well as for felling some trees as part of Valley restoration works.
When the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme was announced in November 2015, FoCPP drafted a funding bid to clear the old pond by Ford Park Cemetery, repair the footbridge and improve drainage from the old playground, and repair the nearby dinosaur wood-carving. Helpfully, PCC officers offered to take responsibility for the bid in order to assist VAT recovery and contract management, and in March 2016, we heard that “Walk on the Wild Side” had been awarded the largest grant of £12,000. Since then, we have been helping to produce a detailed specification for the work.

Love Parks Week event

We held a ‘meet-the-public’ stand by the Life Centre entrance on 29th July as an activity in Love Parks week. We invited park visitors to complete a survey asking how they used the park, what improvements they wanted to see and what names they had for different places. The event was most enjoyable and feedback showed a clear demand for more facilities, especially toilets, as well as restoration work in the Valley. This has proved invaluable when applying for funding grants.

Tree planting and tree work

In 2014, we agreed an extensive package of tree planting and tree work with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Tree Partnership. The funding was originally intended for a community orchard in Zoo Field but plans had to change when the area was required for the Higher Home Park development. Most of the planting work was completed in November 2014 but there have been substantial delays with the tree work and it still remains outstanding.

Designation as Local Green Space

As a submission to Part 2 of the Plymouth Plan, we nominated Central Park for statutory designation as a Local Green Space. A decision is expected towards the end of 2016.

Park Events

We noted with pleasure the first use of the Events Field for this year’s Easter Fair and then the circus. Whilst welcoming such events, we are determined that a fair proportion of the income received should be re-invested in the park as recognition of the disruption caused and to tackle some of the long-standing maintenance issues.

Thanks

A big thank you to:

The Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation for its generous support enabling us to print a new set of information leaflets and buy £100 of tools and materials.

Peverell Ward Councillors for their keen interest and regular attendance at FoCPP meetings. - PCC officers in meeting all kinds of challenges and finding solutions.

All FoCPP members whose support, both individually and collectively, has been invaluable in making Central Park Plymouth the best it can be.

Thanks for that TG, very much appreciated.
Good to hear the odd good involvement from our elected officials, our local council and their workers. They get such a bad press

Some news from FOCP meeting

More of the park to disappear,

Set in stone is over 20 house to be built across Wake Street (needs that figure to get a 106)
This councils are looking to off load the park department depot for leisure development
The Coop did have a plan to knock down the old shops on Peverell Corner and build a new one with car park, taking some allotments and old toilet area. (maybe shelved).
Council to investigate the land from zoo field when Brent’s planning for his development runs out. ( a bit of dispute with a Councillor and FOCP about time of planning consent, his was 5 years and our 3 years)
News. Who has the lease of the  park and ride car-park when the buses stop. According to this Councillor, Argyle have it with-in their Home Park lease.

There are suppose to be 80 waste and dog poo bins in the park, council would like to reduce them down to 30 - 40

New traffic regulation will involve a traffic camera to stop parking and driving around the Life Centre

It cost the FOCP  £250 a year for insurance to do our volunteer work in the park.

CP CLOCK Martin had awarded Community Grant money to improve this area, and Area Manager Steve Prout had asked members to suggest a floral treatment. Different designs were discussed and they ranged from a “Welcome to Central Park” in flowers to a wild flower mix.  Before taking this further, Martin offered to contact Councillor Nuttall’s grand-daughter as he had donated the clock. 

PUBLICITY LEAFLET is to be printed by the Yorkshire Building Society, and an amendment with a colour front photo was approved, together with some other amendments. 

EXTRA VOLUNTEER WORK had been discussed at the last session as the rockery weeding is behind, Liz, Barbara and Gerald would liaise.  
BINS.  

Steve Prout would like our suggestions where to position 30-40 new bins instead of the 80+ current bins (both dog waste and general litter). 

LOVE PARKS EVENTS.  There is to be a Flagship Event in Central Park to close the summer on 3rd September 2016.  It is presently unclear whether PCC is going to support other Love Parks events by individual Friends Groups as they have done in previous years.  Andrew undertook to find out.   

SCULPTURE TENDER. Four wood-carvers have been invited to tender for the work to restore the Lizard and to make up to 5 other sculptures in Valley tree stumps.  [Liz] agreed to be the FoCPP rep on the tender assessment panel. 

PLYMOUTH OPEN SPACES NETWORK.  The first meeting will be in PCC’s offices, Ballard House, at 5.30 pm on Thursday 23rd June. Liz agreed to represent FoCPP.  
  
FUTURE MEETINGS. With several issues of major interest (e.g. plans for housing, Local Greenspace application, Sports Pitches and Drainage), there needs to be an agreed FoCPP position on each. The meeting programme should be arranged with that in mind

An update from the Zoo field and Park and Ride.

The planning permission for the HHP development is for 3 years. The Government changed the length of planning permission from 5 years to 3 years a few years ago. If none of the pre-commencement conditions are approved or an application for a renewal is not submitted the permission will lapse.

Argyle have the right to use the Park & Ride car park on match days according to the 2011 lease. The club are also responsible for the management of the car park on match days according to the lease.

A e-mail I received today

Central Park - Joint Local Plan and next meeting

Today, 15:41Andrew Young (andrew.young@plymouthtrees.org)

Dear Central Park Friend,

Central Park gets a strong mention in the final draft of the Joint Local Plan (Policy PLY19): [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It is out for consultation until 26th April and then it will go for scrutiny by the Planning Inspector. This means that any comments should focus on the plan’s soundness and its compliance with legal requirements. We’ll touch on it at our April meeting so please come with any concerns you may have.

Cllr Martin Leaves hopes to attend the meeting and tell us about the next stage of the Council’s investment plans. As you know, Central Park is set to receive £6M of PCC funding for capital projects over the next few years. FoCPP will be a major stakeholder so this is very exciting for us. As always, please invite friends and neighbours, and anyone who has an interest in Central Park. The meeting is at 7.15 for 7.30 pm on Tuesday 11th April in the Bowling Pavilion.

Best wishes,

Andrew

Dear Friend of Central Park,

Following the welcome news that the Council had committed £6M for park improvements, at our meeting on 11th April we compiled a list of the main items that we would like to see and this is attached.

I forwarded the list to Peverell Member, Cllr Martin Leaves, and he passed it on.  As result, Cllr Patrick Nicholson, PCC Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, Housing and Planning, is coming to our next meeting on Tuesday, 9th May to say a few introductory words.  PCC Officers, Tom Lowry and/or Zoe Sydenham, will also be there to explain what is planned in more detail.  It sounds like a meeting not to be missed so do come if you possibly can and invite friends and family too.  We will be in the Bowling Pavilion from 7.15 pm.

Two new items – Central Park Improvements and Central Park Sports Plateau – have appeared on PCC’s website today: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]  If you can manage to look at them before the meeting, that would be a great help.

I have also submitted a comment from FoCPP on the Joint Local Plan Policy PLY19 and it will appear here once accepted: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]  The deadline for comments is midnight this coming Wednesday so if you wish to comment as an individual, you have just two days left!

Top items requiring capital expenditure

Not in any order:

* Build café-hub with public toilets

* Install tennis courts behind Bowling Pavilion

* Extend and adapt Bowling Pavilion to overlook tennis courts

* Renew Bowling Green railings

* Install lighting from Life Centre to the Clock Tower and along the Valley, and improve lighting elsewhere

* Develop and implement a drainage strategy to include a lake at Barn Park

* Bring Cricket Field back into use

* Improve natural infrastructure with new planting, etc

* Improve paths, especially in vicinity of Pounds House

* Address weaknesses with park entrances

* Introduce signage and other ways to guide visitors around park

* Install more park benches

* Improve measures against vandalism (e.g. CCTV)

* Install watering points to help grow trees and plants

Candidates for Heritage Lottery Funding (Parks for People programme):

* Conserve granite sett gutters (will support masonry conservation skills)

* Repair hedge banks on Gilbert Lane and Venn Lane (will support hedging skills)

* Restore Pounds House (to provide an asset for the park)

* Record the history of water in the park (Stonehouse Leat and living memories)

* Employ a project manager to lead all the park improvement works