The two surveys conducted by the Friends of North Lodge Park identified the lack of children’s play in the Park as a priority to be addressed.

As part of the cafe licence it was agreed the Friends would put forward plans for a children’s play area, on the old bowling green, funded in part by profits from the cafe.

Over the past month 5 suppliers have been contacted and asked to bring forward designs against the following criteria:

• an innovative design, unique to the area, that will make the Park, and Cromer, a destination for play
• a design sensitive to the surroundings, the heritage of the Park and nearby residents
• low level play to not obstruct the vistas across the space
• inclusive play for all, upto age 10/12
• a budget of £100,000

By the end of October the supplier submissions will be ready for public viewing, for you to look at the options and help decide which, if any, proposal to take forward to the next stage.

There is still much to do to make the project a reality, including fund-raising, and agreeing a sustainable maintenance plan, but we are aiming for implementation next year.

Cromer parish meeting.
Last Friday’s Cromer parish meeting, of approx 80 registered electors, voted to request a parish poll asking the following question: Do you wish to see any part of North Lodge Park to be converted into a car park? Yes or No. This question is being forwarded to the Returning Officer at NNDC who will decide whether or not there will be a parish poll.

Discussions at the meeting showed the strength of feeling the community have for North Lodge Park, and how strongly the community want it to remain a special place at the heart of Cromer. Both our surveys have shown this to be the community’s highest priority for the Park.

Our view
We, the committee for the Friends of North Lodge Park, do not wish to see more parking in the Park. Ideally, we would like to get rid of all parking. We also want to see the Park put on a sustainable footing for the future, which requires a significant guaranteed revenue stream. No matter how often or how loudly anyone says “NNDC should be funding the park properly”, without new money we do not think there is any chance of anything beyond minimal maintenance for the foreseeable future because of the significantly increased financial constraints on local Government. .

As a committee, we have had to make a difficult decision. We would much rather the area proposed for the car park is used again for children’s games and educational activities; but we know from our surveys that a significant percentage (50%) of you would support a small car park provided it enabled the rest of the Park to be safeguarded and enhanced.
We do not support the current car park proposal, and have written to NNDC with our considered view that the current proposal has no benefit to the wider park. We have asked NNDC to work with the community to develop a long term plan for the whole Park.

Poll no-win for NLP
Therefore the Friends of North Lodge Park committee have adopted the policy to be prepared to accept a limited car park if – and only if – this benefits the whole park; we did not support the motion for a parish poll.

We believe holding this parish poll is a lose-lose for the Park.

• In the event of a yes vote, or a significant yes vote, NNDC may feel they have the town’s support for the proposed car park without any benefit going to the Park
• In the event of a no vote (which is not enforceable):
  if NNDC abides by the result, will there be new money for the Park or will it continue on a minimal maintenance basis?
  if NNDC rejects the result, will the proposed car park will be installed with no benefit to the wider Park?

Summary
The Friends’ objective is to protect and improve the whole of North Lodge Park. With the invaluable help of volunteers the cafe has become a successful community hub, the gardens around the cafe brought back to life, and there have been a range of successful events in the Park. But unless more people come forward to help, managing the whole park with volunteers may not be sustainable.

North Lodge Park will require significant funding which is unlikely to come from NNDC. A car park may prove to be the only realistic revenue source. So while opposed to the current planning application, your committee does not believe the option of a revenue-producing car park in North Lodge Park should be completely discounted. It should at least be used as a basis to discuss how North Lodge Park can be funded and managed in the future.
The Friends committee are passionate about bringing the Park back to be a Park we can be proud of. We spend hours of our time on your behalf working in the cafe and Park so know the issues. We live and work North Lodge Park. Should we not be trying to find a revenue source that will make the Park sustainable? If not a car park what other revenue source could there be (I repeat, it is unlikely to come from NNDC)? Would you be willing to put your hand deep into your pocket to replace revenue that a car park could generate?

We need to find a way to have a sensible debate within the community and with NNDC. We do not think the proposed parish poll is the way to do it.

The car park proposal
North Norfolk District Council have submitted plans for a car park in North Lodge Park, with conversion of the old bandstand to public toilets.

In summary the proposals are:

• a 48 space car park, with 6 disabled spaces, wholly on the old children’s play area (‘concrete area’);
• conversion of the old bandstand into public toilets;
• no trees to be removed and additional trees planted;
• a new opening onto Overstrand Road to facilitate car entry and exit with styling to match the existing entrance;
•  ‘heritage style’ height restriction bar;
• surface to be shingle style in a plastic grid;
• lighting to be low level;
• no other improvements to the rest of the Park.

There are a number of points to be addressed to improve these proposals, such as

• one objective is for the car park to serve the businesses at the east end of Cromer, but there is no easy way for pedestrians to exit the car park onto Overstrand Road and to that part of town;
• there is a lack of clear pedestrian routes through the car-park;
• the rear transfer areas to the disabled spaces conflict with the routes for cars;
• the number of parking spaces restricts available roadway in the car park which suggests vehicular movement round the area will be difficult
• there are no details about intended traffic flow to and from the proposed car park, nor details of signage outside the Park and the impact on traffic movement in Cromer is unclear;
• implementation of measures that reduce traffic into North Lodge Park itself through the current entrance from Overstrand Road should be within this project .

Putting the proposals in context

How would it benefit our Park?
The old children’s play area (sometimes known as ‘the concrete area’), where the car park is proposed is not a brownfield site: it is a core part of the recreational space in the Park. The area has been left to deteriorate for a number of years, used for a waste transfer facility and more latterly a builders’ yard, but previous to that it has always been an area of recreation. Key questions to answer are; “Is a car park the best use of this part of the Park considering the Park as a whole and how would it benefit our Park?”

Policy Questions
On paper the current proposals seem to be counter to many of the council’s core policies (see footnote). These policies can be summarised to say that any development of an open space must improve that space. It could be argued that the car park is an improvement to the current state of the old children’s play area. But that’s a bit like saying putting a new uPVC front door on a dilapidated Listed house is an improvement while the rest of the house falls down. The car park is like the new front door while the rest of the Park continues to deteriorate.

The whole park
NNDC policies support our strong belief, that the Park needs to be seen as a whole. NNDC are developing plans to work with a strategic partner for the long term sustainability of the Park (with a Prior Information Notice, PIN, providing information and seeking ‘bids’ from anyone interested in ‘managing’ North Lodge Park). We would like clarity on how NNDC see this project in the context of those plans for the proposed management of North Lodge Park. The income generated by a car park would fund the Park and take away future costs and liabilities from NNDC.

Summary

It could be argued, particularly by the 50% of respondents to our latest survey who said that you could accept – with caveats – a car park in North Lodge Park, that if a car park is inevitable then this proposal is about as good as we’ll get from NNDC. However, apart from providing parking for the Park, thereby increasing accessibility and footfall, these proposals take from the Park rather than give. These are proposals for part of the Park without the context, costs and benefits of plans for the Park as a whole.

This is a big decision for Cromer, and we need more information to make it an informed decision. We have written to NNDC requesting the fuller picture and will keep you informed..

Do let us know what you think. More importantly let NNDC know!
Barry Meadows

Footnote: NNDC policies that the car park proposals seem to be counter to.

• NNDC’s Policy EN5 Public Realm states: Within areas designated as Public Realm proposals will be expected to enhance the overall appearance and usability of the area, and a co-ordinated approach to management will be encouraged;
• Core Strategy Policy CT1 Open Space designations states: Development will not be permitted except where it enhances the open character or recreational use of the land;
• NNDC’s policy EN8 Protecting and enhancing the Historic Environment states: Development proposals … should preserve or enhance the character and appearance of designated assets … and their settings through high quality, sensitive design. Development that would have an adverse impact on their special historic or architectural interest will not be permitted.

To: Cllr Rest, Steve Blatch Copy: Cllr Lee, Cllr Cox, Cllr Yiasmi, Cllr Pearce

12 September 2016

Proposed car park and public toilets at North Lodge Park, Cromer

Thank-you for sharing the proposed plans for car parking and public toilets in North Lodge Park. As agreed, Robert and I shared the plans with the Friends committee last week.

Implementation of the proposed car park in North Lodge Park will dramatically change the use of a significant part of this important and much loved Park. Acceptance of the development is a major decision for the community, one that should be made with all the right information, and put into context with the long term future of the Park.

The Friends of North Lodge Park know, through formal surveys and engagement with the community, that there remains significant opposition to a car park in North Lodge Park. However, we know that opinion has moved since the 2007 referendum, and there is some acceptance of a small car park development in the Park, on the old children’s play area, but with many caveats including the proviso that a proportion of the revenue generated is used for the benefit of the Park.

These proposals take away part of the recreational opportunity in Cromer, which council policy states is under supplied, without giving anything back.

On paper the current proposals seem to be counter to many of the council’s core policies (see footnote). These policies can be summarised to say that any development of an open space must improve that space. It could be argued that the car park is an improvement to the current state of the old children’s play area. But that’s a bit like saying putting a new uPVC front door on a dilapidated Listed house is an improvement while the rest of the house falls down. The car park is like the new front door while the rest of the Park continues to deteriorate.

North Lodge Park has been seen as a drain on the resources of NNDC since they assumed ownership on behalf of the community in the mid 70s, with many attempts over the years to reduce the financial burden. In parallel to these car park proposals NNDC are developing a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to work with a strategic partner on the future of North Lodge Park, to improve the Park whilst reducing its cost to the council. It is our view, supported by the council’s core policies listed above, that these two projects cannot be separated. Development of North Lodge Park needs to be seen as a whole.

To enable us to have a sensible debate on these proposals we ask NNDC to engage with the community, and openly discuss the future of all of North Lodge Park. Please can you tell the community how the car park proposals fit with the PIN opportunities and how the revenue from the car parking will be used to sustain and enhance the quality of the whole Park

 

 

Barry Meadows
Secretary, Friends of North Lodge Park

 

 

Footnote: NNDC Core Policies related to the car park proposal

NNDC’s Policy EN5 Public Realm states: Within areas designated as Public Realm proposals will be expected to enhance the overall appearance and usability of the area, and a co-ordinated approach to management will be encouraged;

Core Strategy Policy CT1 Open Space designations states: Development will not be permitted except where it enhances the open character or recreational use of the land;

NNDC’s policy EN8 Protecting and enhancing the Historic Environment states: Development proposals … should preserve or enhance the character and appearance of designated assets … and their settings through high quality, sensitive design. Development that would have an adverse impact on their special historic or architectural interest will not be permitted.

Coast Arts have teamed up with Arts North Norfolk and Friends of North Lodge Park to bring

Free OPEN AIR THEATRE to Cromer.

Stiles and Drewe’s

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Saturday 23 July, 1pm at North Lodge Park, Cromer

Open Air Theatre

Goldilocks, on a trip into the forest, ventures into a seemingly uninhabited house. In the process of making herself feel at home, she turns the place into a gigantic mess! Little does she know that the house belongs to a family of three bears, who will not be too pleased to witness her handiwork.
With music and lyrics by the famed award-winning West-End musical theatre song writing duo (including Mary Poppins) George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Goldilocks and the Three Bears reminds children not to fiddle with the belongings of others, lest there be consequences to bear.

This production is directed by Arts North Norfolk’s own Joseph Ballard and will feature some familiar faces as the well-known characters. Bring along your teddy bear for the Best Dressed Bear Competition – and don’t forget your picnics, blankets and chairs!
Music by George Stiles
Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
This production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd.
Running time: 1 hour

Suitable for all ages, families and children. It is an energetic musical with catchy songs.
This production, which received fantastic reviews when it premiered at Easter at the Atrium Theatre, is presented by Arts North Norfolk in partnership with Coast Arts and Friends of North Lodge Park.

There will be facepainting, teddy bear competitions, and other activities so come and relax for the afternoon.

Bring a teddy bear, picnic, blanket and chairs!