Montpelier Park

[Kevin Dennis]

Hello just joined
I have been trying to contact Parks Dept. and Montpelier Park Group (if it exists?) regarding Montpelier Park.
I and others are interested in tidying up the park and organising community activities there.
Would like to be put in touch with anyone already doing this or would like to improve the Park
Kevin

[Des Bowring]

What kind of 'tidying up' were you thinking of Kevin? Hope you are not wanting to turn it into a glorified garden or destroy what is a fab wildlife site? Too much 'tidying-up' is one of the curses of modern city life imho usually perpetrated by middle class do-gooders..

[Des Bowring]

Just to make it clear I'm all for getting rid of litter and cleaning off tags etc, it's just that Monty is currently under siege from hedge-trimmers, vegetation-clearers, tree-loppers, grass cutters and flower-planters hell bent on 'beautifying' the area!

[Alan Russell]

Hi Kevin,

Welcome!

Des is right - park is wonderful wildlife haven.

Unfortunately it's also a wonderful drug taking bottle breaking tyre dumping fence smashing haven as well.

I'd love for my 5 and 6 year old daughters to be able to play there (in the tarmac area as well as the excellent playground area) without worrying about them slipping onto broken bottles etc.

We ought to be able to get the council to keep it clean / put up decent fences to deter druggies without adversely affecting the wildlife corridors.

I and my kids don't have a garden to play in - I'd love to have a nicer version of what's already a fabulous resource on my doorstep for them to enjoy.

Cheers,

Alan.

[Kevin Dennis]

hello

thanks for response,

my interest in the park began a few months ago when i was dogsitting
for 2 weeks, and went to the park for short walks.

i have tried to get in touch with Montpelier Park Group with no success
and would like to build on the work they started in 2003
see http://www.montpelierpages.co.uk/mpg/index.htm
see also the minutes of the Park Group

i would be interested in re-vitalising The Montpelier Park Group

Kevin

[Dan Cook]

Thanks for the link to the Montpelier park group site - I've never seen it before. It's interesting that it mentions money that was available for improvements following some developments a few years ago. I've heard that there are similar monies that could be available for improvements from the coffers of the Linden Homes Development on Bath Buildings and Picton Lane, so if there is a will to make improvements, it may be that there are resources available.

We could always make this an agenda item for the Montpelier Action Group meeting on Nov 12th, as I bet there are loads of people who'd like to see improvements at the park. I'm concerned about drugs litter around the park, and I think if we could tackle that (probably by doing something about the phone box, which seems to be a bit of a focus for drugs use) then we could make the place better for those with two legs and those with four. And six and eight and more.

If the consensus is to add this, let me know.

[Alan Russell]

Hi Kevin, Dan,

The top end of the park and the kid's play area was, indeed, up-graded by the use of section 106 money at the behest of the MPG. They also got the very high quality fence built along the back of the park to try to stop drugs abuse in the bushes there -which was rife.

Unfortunately no money was available for the fences around the tarmac play area which as you know are still a home for much drugs abuse.

Meetings were held with the Parks dept representative Paul Manton and MPG and neighbours where we discussed the wildlife issues as well and I think a happy balance was found. One "dangerous" tree was pollarded there was talk of bats so they couldn't cut it down and it seemed to be fine this summer.

There IS a very big chunk of money associated with the Linden Homes development which could be potentially spent on MP - I think we will do ourselves LOADS of favours by lobbying Paul Manton and the Parks dept NOW whilst they are still deciding what and where to spend this money on.

A concerted effort to come up with some concrete plans for how best to improve the park would be a good start and a discussion at the next MAG meeting would be great.

I'd vote for improving the fencing around the Tarmac Area and paying for more regular cleaning so we can enjoy it without broken glass and needles everywhere........

We really could improve the MP enormously without threatening wildlife corridors.

I'd be up for a re-vitalised MPG

Alan.

Oh yeah and let's lobby BT about that bloody Phone Box!

[Dan Cook]

Well, let's say it's on the agenda - I think we are unlikely to get to the bottom of all the issues that need to be addressed at the MAG meeting, but perhaps a more modest aim of getting a group of people together who are prepared to take this on is achievable.

How does that sound?

[Kevin Dennis]

sounds good
it's exactly what i hoped for

kevin

will aim to come to meeting

[Alan Russell]

Sounds good to me too.

Alan.

[Dan Cook]

Hi folks, following the MAG meeting on the 12 Nov (see separate group post for the minutes) we're looking for members for the Montpelier Park Group.

The remit is to develop a plan for the park that will enhance the amenity, protect biodiversity and design out crime. The plan can be discussed at a future group meeting, and should ultimately influence the Council Parks Department priorities for the park.

We have offers of help from the police, and we are aware that there is "section 106" money available to make improvements, to the tune of £30K.

Expressions of interest are welcome via this post, or via [e-mail]

[Kevin Dennis]

Hello ,

I attended meeting on 12Nov, unfortunately had to leave after an hour, very happy item on agenda and action is afoot.

I look forward to 'unbridled nature and rampant creativity'.

Kevin

[Nye Harries]

Kevin ( and others) - I am one of the Montpelier Park Group; I did try to mail you Kevin two weeks ago on an address - dunnojumbie etc - after a prompt from Paul Manton in the Parks dept but got no reply; no matter).

The "group" was always a loose collective - mainly of 6/7 people whose kids play in the park - and these individuals still take an interest. However, it is difficult to be representative so bringing it all into the MAG set up seems the best approach to me.

The main bits of background are:
- as indicated there is likely to be some money for spend on local community facilities arising from the Linden development. This could be as much as a (low) six figure sum I gather - but other projects/areas can also submit plans, Paul Manton tells me, ( eg Albany Green, Stokes Croft, etc). I understand however, the cash will not be available until the building project is finished - ? end of 2008.
- from the community consultation exercise we held two years ago there are some bits of the park plan as yet unfufilled, but we also need new and practical ideas to address issues of crime and in particualr how to use the "back bit" between the playground and the industrial estate.
- it would be useful to clarify the postiion re any money form the Ashley Court development

I was thinking of starting a very simple consultation exercise in the new year, as we did two years ago (leaflets/posters/e-mail box etc), as we need to alert the wider community and seek views on priorities and ideas. I will try to make the next MAG to discuss, but the main message for me is that we all need to shaer our information and pull together on this. It is not a bad park but has the potential to be even better!

Nye