Springfield Park User Group Meeting
14 May 2012, 7 - 9 pm
Present
Alfred, Amy, Andy, Bruce Irving for LBH, Carolyn, Deborah, Emma,
Hannah, Kevin, Jane, Cllr Margaret Gordon, Pam, Ruth, William
Apologies
None recorded
Actions are underlined below.
1)
Events
Meeting considered two recent applications. Kevin offered a history walk on Sunday
2 June. Other suggestions: Geology with Brian Worzel.
Hannah reported on her Awards for All application, which involves a 4-month
turnaround. To include benches (possibly with ranger-sculptor Gary March, garymarch.com), walks (history, tree, bat), and carved animals (AE to source photo of
these for website). Also possibly the shelter building and to coordinate with Robin
Hood Garden. She will coordinate with Emma, Jane and Ruth.
Andy would like to organise a Springfield story competition with local schools,
offering a book voucher prize. Nick Hornby running a monster sweetshop writing
workshop in Shoreditch. SPUG fully supports the idea.
2)
Building projects
BI reported that he now had to commission management consultants to 'make a
business case' for the White House repair/development. The meeting was extremely
frustrated (even furious) that plans for restoration of the park were yet again being
debated, further wasting whatever sum was left of the original million pounds
allocated in 2006. None of this money has been seen on the ground in the park.
Bruce was reminded by Jane of the series of meetings already convened on this
subject under his predecessors. Margaret will make representations on our behalf to
council cabinet minister Jonathan McShane, using our timeline of events on this
funding, and invite him to next meeting.
3)
Bowling Green
The hut key was finally returned to Parks from Property, so we visited! However,
despite being told that the key had been retained so long by Property in order to
complete the electrics, the electrics have not been completed, or even started. BI to
investigate, 'make a case' for the hut (again). DA to write (again).
Emma and the Generalist Practice reading group are still interested in using the
pavilion for an exhibition/reading event series over two weekends in September.
The Sonshine Club, now in its third year, meets two days a week with four groups of
children for gardening and environmental activities. They have started planting the
border beds, including wheat, joining the Real Bread Campaign's 'bake your lawn'
project (www.sustainweb.org/realbread/bake_your_lawn/), which will be milled at Three
Mills.
4)
Rough sleeping
Andy reported rough sleeping in the park, suggested link with street wardens, asked
for literature to give them. WT to get info. [For anyone else concerned, the person to
contact at Hackney Winter Night Shelter is Daf Viney (daf.viney@hwns.org.uk,
07702799543) or there is the Street Rescue Team on 0870 383 3333.]
5)
Dog walking
Dog fouling can now be reported online at hackney.gov.uk/ee-animal-fouling-577.htm BI
to contact the Dogs Trust about training courses.
6)
Other organisations
Jane to attend Walthamstow Filter Beds meeting.
Hackney Marshes User Group and Lea Valley Regional Park meetings for concerns
about closures during the Olympics and Radio 1 concert on Hackney Marshes (Lea
River path along east marsh closed June 8 for amonth).
SPUG would like to integrate with Clapton Common. AE to enquire about a joint
meeting.
7)
AOB
Thanks to Ahmed for the new Tree leaflet. SPUG only regrets that two trees included
in that leaflet are no longer among the living: the foxglove tree (which was dying, and
removed under the Tree Officer's supervision, and which will be replaced in autumn
2012) and the lateral cherry tree (which the Tree Officer said was fine, but manager
Michael Dixon butchered at his own whim).
Next meeting: 7:30 pm, Thursday 14 June in the ranger's office.