It’s been a busy month!
Planning permission has been applied for the whole Park, and is currently being considered. The plan submitted is here. It is due to be decided upon by the end of April. The work has been put out to tender, and prices are due to come back in the first week of April.
BT have now removed the telephone kiosk, and we plan to infill the hole and match the wall to the surrounding when funds allow.
The Community Cashback fencing is now installed, and as the tendering prices came in below budget, the £10,000 has also funded new drop bollards at the entrance and new self-closing gates at the pavement to prevent children running out on the road, and dog signs for the playground.
The fence is not as high as we would have liked, so we are working with the council to raise it; the funding had to be spent by March, so they ran out of time to get planning permission for a higher fence.
We met with the Council this week to discuss progress, and may have made a breakthrough on the issue of the land strip within the Park that is not owned by BCC. As this land has been untended for 9 years, BCC legal department had been advising that we do not contact the owner and wait for a further 3 years to enable them to apply for possession. BCC have now changed their stance, and we are hoping to meet with the owner of the strip soon. We aim to secure their permission for work on their land, which will enable us to secure the Biffaward £50,000, and enable us to continue applying for further grants. Without their permission, grant funds cannot be spent on their land.
We are currently working hard on the Lottery bid to reclaim the rear wasteground, which is due in on May 12th. This is a standalone project on council land, so will go ahead regardless of whether we manage to resolve the ownership / permission issue of the land strip.
We are still waiting for a reply to our letter from Jon Rogers about the chronic underfunding of Montpelier’s parks. Hugh Holden of the Bristol Parks Forum also raised the issue with Tracey Morgan, the new manager of the Parks department. If you feel like dropping them your own note about it, their email addresses are: jon.rogers@bristol.gov.uk and tracey.morgan@bristol.gov.uk.
Happy Easter!
Simon, Shiona, Will and Piers
Hi Shiona
I am a bit puzzled by your suggestion that I haven’t replied…
I replied to your letter on 19th February 2010, “I am in surgery today, but will get back to you all next week when I have had a chance to speak with officers.”
I then spoke with officers and responded again on 8th March 2010, “I am awaiting feedback, but understand that Vicki has had confirmation that planning permission is being sought in good time.
“I have no problem with an article for Evening Post, and hope that we can confirm good news.
“When I hear more, then either I or Vicki will be in touch.”
I then wrote again on 8th March 2010, “Hi Shiona
I have been forwarded the following email from the Parks team…
All sounds good.
Jon
>>> Vicki Abel 01/03/10 09:58 >>>
Hi Pam and Colleen
I am working with the Montpelier Park Group to improve Montpelier Park.
We are currently putting together a funding application to the Community Spaces Fund for £50k
to improve the park (along with another application for £50k to the Biffaward).
At the moment there is no danger in not submitting the bid in time but the group became concerned
that the planning application had not been submitted in the timescale that we had first given because
of other work pressures taking priority.
We have until 12th May 2010 to complete the application form, secure planning permission and tender the work. The planning application is due to be submitted this week and if a decision is made in the statutory 8 week period then the outcome will be known by end April/early May and will not delay the funding bid.
Please let me know if you require any further information.
Best Wishes”
If you have outstanding issues then please let me know, because as far as I am aware all the issues have been raised with officers, and you have had responses.
Best wishes
Jon
Thank you for your quick response Jon, and apologies for any confusion.
Unfortunately, no, we are still waiting for a reply on the issue of BCC underfunding of Montpelier’s parks, (ie Albany Green and Montpelier Park) as set out in the letter of 18 February. This is also the issue raised with Tracey Morgan by Hugh Holden.
The issue of planning permission dates for the lottery grant is a separate one. We believe this is indeed resolved, and thank you for your intervention.
OK – I will make enquiries!
Had the following update this afternoon, “I have been checking this out and Vicki is working on this project and is out to tender.
“Vicki isn’t in today so I have a few questions that I need to clarify on Monday, which is about the funding, so will come back to you then.
“I am also looking at the Capital programme in detail early in April and this will include a plan for cyclical maintenance that is required across the city, which I hope will start to address some of the issues about the general state of some of our parks.
“Can I give you a fuller response to this on Monday, and then I will also be able to respond back to Hugh and Shiona.”
Cheers
Jon