NEWS LETTER NUMBER 10
August 2006

To all members and Friends
 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR MAKING BRADGATE PARK
THE BEST SMALL PARK IN
THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

 

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Effingham Arms. There were twenty nine members in attendance. Thanks was given to the Committee for their voluntary help over the past year. The financial statement and accounts were accepted and a full committee was elected. Thanks to all members for their support.

Members passed very favourable comments on our World Wide Web Site. There are more than ten other sites linking to ours, which has helped the website to pull in visitors.

Comments were made and entered in our minutes, that (despite being invited) no senior officer from the Green Space section of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council could give their time to attend our AGM, or even to send a letter of appreciation for the Friends Group's efforts. Over £750,000 has been raised by our group, from outside funders, over the last three years. Members said the Group was working to provide decent facilities and a better environment for our Community to enjoy. It was our understanding that we were working in partnership with the council, but it appeared that the Friends Group had been
used by the Council to secure funding that the Council was unable to secure. We also understand that Bradgate Park has not been entered for the Green flag Award this year and I will let readers come to their own conclusion about the reason for this.

Bradgate Bowling Section was also invited to the AGM, but no representatives attended.


A discussion was held on the fact that we had seen a large increase in the number of people enjoying the new facilities in Bradgate Park. The public have passed favourable comments on the improvements within the park, and thanks have been received from the community by the Group.

Several successful coaching sessions were held throughout the year. Basketball, Netball, Football, and Training and Fitness sessions were very popular, using the floodlit Multi-use Games Area.

We had received funding to provide children’s games and sports training, but owing to the paper work not reaching the Authority two months prior to the start of the school holidays, R.M.B.C. would not allow the activities to go ahead, and they had to be cancelled.

As we could not hold a gala to raise funds this year, the Friends Group would be grateful for any offer of financial support. We cannot receive funds for day-to-day running of the Group from any of the founder members.



The park’s Master Plan is almost completed. What a success story for the Friends of Bradgate Park! Some still-to-be-completed projects include:

We also still hope to develop a modern centre for park users, with toilet and  changing facilities, a coffee shop and picnic area, a meeting/conference space and new first aid and control rooms, all with disabled access and user friendly. If achieved, this would be the icing on the cake. The estimated cost is three quarters of a million pounds!

Wedding Cars to be Allowed in the Park

I was astonished (to put it mildly!) at the proposal contained in a recent memo from RMBC.

In a memo to the staff of Bradgate Park, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council state that they have given permission for the traffic control gates on the main footpath to be unlocked to allow wedding cars to enter, so that photos may be taken of the wedding party.

We must make it quite clear that the Friends of Bradgate Park Group welcome all visitors to the park with open arms, but community safety comes first. Much of the money that the Friends group has raised has been used to improve safety and security in the park.

In agreement with Green Spaces unit, traffic controls have been placed at all entrances so that park users can enjoy the facilities free from the danger of vehicular traffic. There are park benches on the path, and the under-twelve children’s play area leads straight on to this footpath, so any vehicles will present a real hazard.

This decision will set a precedent for other park uses to request to have the same rights of access to the park with their cars.

Special funds of around two thousand pounds were raised to install a removal barrier, which can be opened when large events take place in the park to allow traffic on to a marshalled, coned off area away from pedestrians. This is specifically so that the traffic control barriers can remain closed and thus fulfil their purpose of keeping cars away from pedestrians. This allows park users to wander down the main footpath and through the whole park in safety.

Bradgate Park is visited frequently by wedding parties to have the photographs of their special day taken in a beautiful setting. Until now, all have parked their vehicles in the car park, and taken the five minute pleasant stroll down the footpath.

Rotherham's Urban Parks Manager, Mr. Bob Cummings, said, "We work closely with the Friends Group and always welcome their input, but this is a public open space. In this instance, a quite proper and reasonable request was made and after consideration, including health and safety issues, we decided it to be quite appropriate".

So, Rotherham Council Health and Safety Section have given the thumbs up to this particular wedding party's vehicles using a footpath, with toddlers and young children running around and parents thinking they are safe because we have traffic control gates.

Are you a Member?

Free membership of the Friends Group is open to all. Are you interested in giving up some of your spare time to help a voluntary group improve the local environment and public amenities? Come and join us and help to make a difference! The Group's committee always welcome any suggestions and comments, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.
 

H. Gresser (Chairperson / Coordinator)

 

CONTACT (H.) FOR MORE INFORMATION on
MOBILE 07930687492. HOME 01709 510809.
EMAIL : fofbp@ukonline.co.uk