Ready, Steady, Weed – all tooled up and no where to garden; North Norfolk News 28/5/2015.
Photo Opportunity: Wednesday 27th May 2015: 12.30.
We seem to be getting the message across: that there is an active community in Cromer eager to help in North Lodge Park (when/if the councils manage to complete the transfer.)
To this end, the EDP have asked if we would arrange a photo opportunity for them, to show a (large) group of frustrated potential volunteers, with garden tools in hand in North Lodge Park. camille winbush onlyfansTomorrow. Wednesday 27th May at 12.30pm.
We know it is very short notice, but if you could dust down some garden tools of various shapes and sizes, and come to be ready for a photograph by 12.30 tomorrow afternoon in North Lodge Park (meet by the boating lake), this could be the start of something. All welcome, Spades, Forks, Trowels, etc at the ready.
Warning: This event may contain flash photography.
Look forward to seeing you all.
Barry Meadows
Future film producer and Secretary of North Lodge Park
To help us recruit film stars for the day please share this message with your friends:
Tiptoe through the tulips
North Lodge Park
The community view
As you know, our report, based on analysis of almost 750 responses to the survey was presented to Cromer Town Council on 30th April, and at an open meeting on 14th May. We have been heartened by the positive response from you, at the meeting and elsewhere: there is definitely a passion for the Park in the community.
Thank-you to those who stayed behind at the open meeting to join the working groups to generate ideas and to commit your time to help with improvements to the Park. Anyone who couldn’t make the meeting who would like to join one of the working groups please let us know, email us on friends@northlodgepark.org.uk and we’ll let you know what is planned.
Tiptoe through the tulips
You will not be surprised that creating an equal working relationship with Cromer Town Council is not proving to be easy – there are two different cultures involved and the Council procedures seem designed to hinder progress. We still have major concerns, for example, about the budget and how prepared the Council is for owning the Park, but we are doing what we can to make it work.
At the open meeting, and elsewhere, we have emphasised that there remain challenges in moving forward: more than 15 months after it was agreed to transfer the Park to Cromer Town Council there still seems to be a stalemate in the process. We have dug hard at both NNDC and Cromer Town Council to try to get to the bottom of the impasse, and are now assured that if the transfer isn’t agreed by the end of June it will be stopped. At last we might get some clarity on the situation soon if not progress!
The next planned joint Cromer Town Council and Friends of North Lodge Park committee meeting is on 4th June. This will be a key meeting to resolve many of the constraints that are obstructing the establishment of a partnership with the Town Council. For the sake of the Park, we can not keep tiptoeing through the tulips.
The opportunities
The working groups at the open meeting brought forward many ideas that we are bringing together into a working plan alongside the recommendations and priorities that came from the survey analysis. We have developed a specification for a cafe operator and have offered to manage the process and work with interested parties over the coming month so that when the smoke clears in June we will have a preferred operator ready to recommend to the Park owners to take on the cafe at the earliest opportunity this summer.
Unfortunately there is little we can do without support from the Park owners – on your behalf we will continue to encourage the two councils to bring this sorry saga to an end – whether there will be any film rights to the story remains to be seen!
Remaining positive
Nelson Mandela said “It always seems impossible until its done”; we remain positive that with support from the Park owners, either the district or town, your enthusiasm will help us make North Lodge Park a real asset for Cromer. Walt Disney was right when he said “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible”.
Let’s hope the fun from working with Walt Disney proves Nelson Mandela right.
Open meeting 14 May 2015
There will be an open meeting on THURSDAY 14th MAY at 7pm in Cromer Community Hall where we will present the report to you, and we can discuss the recommendations and develop some actions.
Please come to listen and help.
North Lodge Park The Community View
We completed the analysis of what you said in the survey – all 747 responses – and presented the findings with 10 recommendations to Cromer Town Council on 30th April – you can read the full report on the website at 14 toycrazykatienorthlodgepark.org.uk.
There will be an open meeting on THURSDAY 14th MAY at 7pm in Cromer Community Hall where we will present the report to you, and we can discuss the recommendations and develop some actions.
Please come to listen and help.
In summary the 10 recommendations are:
- the Park should be managed as a TRUST for the community
- a set of PRINCIPLES should be used to guide decisions made about the Park
- the BUDGET for the Park must be sufficient to stop further deterioration
- the CAFE should be opened as soon as possible
- the potential of the CONCRETE AREA should be explored as soon as possible
- all developments should be considered within a 5 and 10 year PLAN
- specific areas of the Park should be TIDIED and REPLANTED
- ACTIVITIES should commence as soon as possible
- PUTTING should be reintroduced
- movement and parking of CARS should be controlled
Full details of these recommendations are in the report.
While we wait for the transfer to actually happen, and for Cromer Town Council to respond to our recommendations, life in the Park is at full speed and things need to be done. There are a number of things already going on and more are planned:
- we prepared a specification for the cafe which was agreed at last week’s meeting with the Town Council, and if all goes well the cafe should be open this summer
- we prepared a specification for the maintenance of the Park which will go to tender this summer and if all goes well should start in the autumn
- we have agreement to put up speed limit signs (5mph) and to develop proposals for improving management of vehicles in the Park
- we have agreement to look into the feasibility of managing the Park under some form of community trust
There are lots of things on our ‘to do’ list – don’t hold back if you’d like to help with any of these
- the ugly concrete area and run-down bandstand need to be improved – its the focal point on the main entrance – do you have some positive ideas and some energy to develop this area with us if the Council think it is possible for the Friends to make use of this building?
- there are many areas in the Park which have been neglected for too long – do you have expertise and time to help us plan and then develop these in the short term? Can the Friends add value within the maintenance tender by managing specific areas of the Park?
- to bring some life into the Park this summer we’d like events to be run – if you have ideas please let us know – bring them to the meeting on 14th May
- putting is high on your list of activities to restart in the Park – do you want to help with this – let us know; we could start straight away by organising a competition weekend – would you interested in organising this?
- there needs to be a set of ‘rules and regulations’ to help manage the Park – based on the proposed principles we need to develop some working guidelines; we don’t want rules to be overly restrictive – the Park is for all the community – we want rules to encourage community engagement and consideration for others – what do you think? We need your help to develop some working guidelines.
We expect the meeting on 14th May to focus on the proposed actions and ideas – guided by the proposed principles and priorities highlighted in the report. Please come along with your ideas and energy to work with us to develop some short term plans for North Lodge Park.
Look forward to seeing you soon
Barry Meadows
Secretary, Friends of North Lodge Park
North Lodge Park – The Community View
The Friends survey on North Lodge Park generated a very strong response with 747 people responding during March and April 2015.
The overwhelming view is that the special character of the Park as a beautiful, peaceful green space in the heart of Cromer should be safeguarded, and that the lawns and flower beds of North Lodge Park are an important asset to the town. Nothing should happen that is not in keeping with this special character. Respondents often spoke passionately about their fond memories of the Park throughout their lives and how it provides an ‘oasis of calm’, particularly at times when the town is very busy during the summer months. In order to protect this special nature of the Park, the Friends are proposing a set of principles that will guide how the Park should be maintained and developed.
Respondents show very strong support for improved maintenance and improved facilities in the Park. There is a clear wish from the community for the café to be reopened as soon as possible – the café should be open by this summer (2015).
There is also strong support for more dedicated areas such as a play area for children. There are several areas in the Park where immediate improvements are required, such as the concrete area by the main entrance. The Friends recommend actions are taken to address these areas quickly. In addition, the movement and parking of vehicles in the Park needs to be urgently reviewed.
There is also support for more activities and events, and allowing private events which raise funds for the Park provided these are carefully controlled and don’t over-constrain other public uses of the Park. It is recommended that activities and events are facilitated by the Friends and others to bring the Park to life this year. Putting in the Park is definitely one activity missed by the community and it is recommended that the Friends explore ways to bring this back.
To establish North Lodge Park as a living community hub is an objective strongly proposed in the survey responses. One key recommendation, therefore, is that the Park is run as a Trust managed by members of the community. While this is set up, it is recommended that the working arrangements on the current Park management committee are reviewed to ensure an equitable partnership between the Town Council and the Friends. Another key recommendation is that the budget allocated needs to be sufficient to maintain and improve the Park and ensure no further deterioration.
The community understands the need to manage the Park within a long term plan. The recommendations arising out of the responses to this survey are given as a first step in this process and the Friends propose to take a proactive role in developing, and then consulting on, a 5-10 year plan for the Park. This will include exploring ways to develop a play area as well as investigating many of the other interesting ideas suggested in the survey.
Cromer Town Council has been asked to respond in writing to these recommendations and the Friends look forward to a positive response so we can all work together for the good of our Park.
A Jumbo response to park survey
There were 747 responses
Many people said Cromer was tired of being asked what they wanted in North Lodge Park so we really were surprised to receive 747 responses – more than all previous surveys. This tells us you still have a lot of passion for the Park and its future. Thank-you, and thank-you for the confidence you have in us to work on your behalf.
We’re beavering away analysing what you have said in time to present to Cromer Town Council on Thursday 30th April, following which we will publish our report on the website (northlodgepark.org.uk). We’re sorting out a date to present the report to you around the middle of May.
We don’t think you will be surprised by the results: The overwhelming view is that the special character of the Park as a beautiful, peaceful green space in the heart of Cromer should be safeguarded. Nothing should happen that is not in keeping with this special character. You spoke passionately about your fond memories of the Park and how it provides an ‘oasis of calm’, particularly at times when the town is very busy during the summer months. Responses show clearly that the lawns and flower beds of North Lodge Park are seen as an important asset to Cromer. Maintaining this special character was the most frequently mentioned strongest wish for the Park.
Based on our analysis of what you have said, our report will contain recommendations to Cromer Town Council. We will publish the Council’s written response to these as soon as we have it.
In the meantime…
While we get ourselves together for the longer term, daily life must go on. As soon as the Park is transferred (any day now?) Cromer Town Council will have responsibility for its maintenance – including keeping the grass cut, weeding the flower beds and cleaning the toilets.
We have been working with the Council on a specification for the grounds 
maintenance which should be put out to tender in early May, with a new contract in place by the end of the summer. However, we have raised concerns with the Council about the maintenance during the interim period, from when the Park is transferred until a longer term contract is agreed, because without other quotations it is difficult to know if the price quoted represents good value for money and it comes with a lower specification than previous maintenance.
If you know of anyone who may be interested tendering for all or part of the maintenance, please ask them to get in touch with us friends@northlodgepark.org.uk or the Council.
In the meantime…the Park will need your help, especially in maintaining the flower borders. Do you have ideas for what can be done, and/or the time and ability to help do it? We hope to run some ideas and work days in May/June to make the Park closer to what you want in the short term. If you are interested please get in touch: friends@northlodgepark.org.uk and keep up to date on the website or social media.
There is a clear wish from you for the café to be reopened as soon as possible – the Friends are already working with the Town Council to expedite this, and if all goes according to plan the café should be open by the summer. Again, if you know of anyone who may be interested in this opportunity please ask them to get in touch – through the survey we have already had a couple of interested parties come forward.
North Lodge Park Friends Update
the Park
give us your ideas
Behind the scenes your elected committee (of ordinary residents like you) is actively seeking out views from the community on what you want in your Park. With over 400 of our Park surveys returned and still 3 weeks to go it is clear that there is considerable interest in North Lodge Park. Whilst this is more results than the previous survey (March 2007) we still need your help getting the message across – please ask your family and friends to complete the survey – online at northlodgepark.org.uk or pick up a paper copy from Budgens.
Cromer Town Council North Lodge Park committee
The Cromer Town Council (CTC) North Lodge Park committee met on 19th March, which was the first time the elected Friends representatives had an opportunity to raise many of the issues you asked about at the AGM. Legally, this is a formally structured meeting run under strict rules but within this it is clear that the Town Council want to work in partnership with us and are looking for the Friends to be creative in bringing forward ideas for the Park.
In response to the questions we raised on your behalf:
- there are no agreed figures on how much the Park has cost NNDC to maintain – it seems NNDC have not shared this information – so we are unable to confirm any of the figures being quoted
therefore, the 2015/16 CTC North Lodge Park budget is a best-guess, but is a minimal maintenance budget - the budget includes maintaining the toilets (for which rates are payable), but not the thatched ‘collectors cabin’ (as this addition came after the budget was set) on which rates are payable (unbelievable!); the budget does not include rates for putting should this be reinstated
- the café will pay its own business rates when opened
- NNDC are paying the legal costs for the transfer
- there are no plans for the ‘dowry’ (although £3k has been used this year to balance the budget)
We made it clear to the Council it is obvious from the survey results so far that you do not want another year without some investment in the Park, and that we need to expedite any processes needed for action this year, for example opening the café (recognising the Park is much more than just the café) . In addition
- CTC want to have a set of ‘rules and regulations’ for the Park and have asked the Friends to help develop these
- CTC have agreed to work with the Friends on an expedited process to open the café this year
- There are issues about vehicles in the Park which will need urgent attention when the transfer is complete: unauthorised access, parking and speed. There are vehicular rights of way and parking rights in the Park to be considered. CTC have asked the Friends to work with them on addressing the issues.
- CTC have agreed to continue printing posters, handouts and surveys for the Friends
- CTC agreed to link to our website from cromertown.org
Where next…
CTC have always stated that they have not made any plans for the Park because they wanted the community input; it is the Friends role – your role – to help provide this. It is clear that CTC have adhered to this, which means that plans for taking on the Park are at an early stage of development. As well as compiling a report from the survey results, the Friends will need to help CTC manage the transition period.
Our plan now is to prepare a report which:
- provides an analysis of the survey data for publishing by the end of April
- makes clear recommendations, based on the survey, for specific immediate actions which should be taken
- outlines a set of longer term recommendations, based on the survey, for development of the Park
This plan will be presented to CTC on 30 April, on the website and at an open meeting with you in early May.
There is a lot to do over the next month – we ask your patience if we aren’t as pro-active in keeping you as up to date as we would like. If you want more information, you can contact one of the committee, follow us on social media, or write to us friends@northlodgepark.org.uk
To receive future newsletter direct to your inbox sign-up for our mailing list:
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If you would like to financially support the Friends of North Lodge Park (and get your I♥NLP badge) you can print a joining form here and return it with your contribution to North Lodge.
New Officers
At the first committee meeting of the Friends of North Lodge Park last night the officers were elected by the committee. They are:
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- chair: Tony Knight
- vice-chair: Emma Dale
- treasurer: Rosemary Price
- secretary: Barry Meadows
Launch of Consultation at AGM
Nearly 100 people packed into Cromer’s Garden Street Community Centre on 4 March for the inaugural meeting of the Friends of North Lodge Park to “have their say” on the future of the Park.
“The Friends feel passionately about the Park, most of us remember when it was a lively place with lots of facilities,” said Friends steering group chair Carolyn Candish. “The formation of the Friends of North Lodge Park is the first opportunity for the community to be part of the decision-making process about what happens in the park.”
North Lodge Park is in the process of being transferred from NNDC to Cromer Town Council, and the meeting heard that Cromer Town Council had agreed a budget of £21,626 for the Park in 2015-16, with a £150,000 ‘dowry’ from NNDC also available. Concern was expressed by several people at the meeting whether the Town Council budget was sufficient as it seemed much lower than previous figures quoted by NNDC for running the Park.
“Assuming there are no further hold-ups, the transfer could take place by the end of March, “ said Carolyn Candish. “There won’t be an open cheque-book, but both the Town Council and the Friends will be able to apply for grants for specific projects.”
A widespread questionnaire consultation has been designed to start the process of collecting ideas to feed into plans for the Park. Launching the questionnaire, Tony Knight from the Friends steering group said: “The Friends’ key role is representing the views of the community, to be able to say ‘people want this’ or ‘don’t want that’ on their behalf.
“This questionnaire is very much a starting point in this process, an opportunity to collect ideas to help come up with a plan to discuss with the Town Council. “It will provide evidence of the feelings from the community”.
“It’s about looking forward and being positive. It’s a fresh starting point, a clean sheet of paper.”
The two-page questionnaire – available online and in paper form – is designed to provide a flavour of the sort of developments, if any, people would like to see in the Park.
Local people lost no time at the meeting to air some of their views during a lively half-hour open discussion, with memories of good experiences in the Park and a hope that the Park will be restored and properly maintained for future generations.
Local architect Bernard Smith said: “This is a new beginning for the park, and we’ve got to think of the youth of the future, so the park has to change. This is the beginning of a process, so let’s be positive.”
The results of the questionnaire will be used to develop plans with the Town Council when ownership of the park is transferred from the District Council, explained Carolyn Candish.
“Even though the transfer of the park is not yet complete, the Friends are up and running to represent the views of people in Cromer about what they want to see in North Lodge Park,” she concluded.
“Becoming a Friend of North Lodge Park will mean the chance to help develop its future, open up creative opportunities, and be a lot of fun.”
A Friends’ membership fee of £5 per household/family was also agreed at the meeting. The questionnaire can be completed online at northlodgepark.org.uk; paper copies are available from Budgens in Cromer.