Category Archives: Information
Volunteering Update
Many thanks to those who attended our second Volunteer Day on 15th March. Although we managed to achieve our main objective, the removal of the brash from the coppiced area next to Glan Aber Tennis Club, it was clear that this activity involved far too much heavy lifting for our volunteer workforce. Accordingly, we have had some discussions with our Park Development Officer, Andy James, and the FoWP committee and we have agreed that we need to better target the use of our volunteer resources in the future. For example, we might look to set up our next Volunteer Day for tidying the flowerbeds at the back of the car park and in front of the cafe. This activity is much more in line with our successful inaugural Volunteer Day when we tidied up the Lache Lane and Cliveden Road entrances.
If you have any ideas or questions on volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards, Steve Telford (Chairman, FoWP)
FoWP December Update
In the last newsletter I mentioned that there were increasing comments and complaints about a noticeable decline in standards of upkeep in Westminster Park with grassed areas being cut less frequently and looking untidy, weeds spreading across paths, the children’s play area and BMX track, and damage from vandalism. We have been discussing these issues with Council officers who recognise that standards have declined this year but are under increasing pressure from constraints on public spending. They have undertaken to clarify and define standards and implement them more rigorously next year. Some damage from vandalism has been repaired and there were also a couple of volunteer events late in the season to catch up on a backlog of work. However, financial constraints are unlikely to be relaxed and a greater contribution is going to be needed from local volunteers to uphold standards in the future. All of us greatly value the park and its facilities so if you are able to contribute some of your time to help with tidying the park, do please get in touch with our secretary, Sue Britton, at brittonfamily@btinternet.com .
We have also been discussing improved preventative and security measures against incursions by travellers and vandalism. One possibility has been installing a height restriction barrier but a traffic survey has shown that a large number of taller vehicles come to the park entirely legitimately. In addition to the inconvenience caused, a barrier could result in detering visitors or unwanted parking in front of houses on adjacent roads. Other possibilities include reinstating CCTV cameras, installing internal barriers to prevent vehicle access to the sports pitches, and closing the park gates at night. These are still being considered.
Refurbishment of the changing room area in the central café block is still in hand and, with no additional funding available, the Council is seeking to establish working arrangements with potential user groups to look after opening and closing, regular cleaning and replenishment of supplies.
On the positive side, the café now being managed by Golfstorehouse has been offering a much improved range of food and refreshments and is being used by an increasing number of visitors to the park and groups including mother and toddler, Scrabble and ukulele. We have also been most grateful to receive the donation of another seat in the park making a total of four this year in addition to two picnic benches last year. And once again, the wide variety of trees in the park have been showing their delightful autumn colours.
David Guyton
FoWP June Update
Thanks to two bulb-planting working parties last autumn, daffodils contributed by our local councillors provided a delightful splash of spring colour in the grassed area at the end of the car park, along the vehicle entrance to the café block, and around the civic sculpture next to the children’s play area. Previous bulb plantings along the perimeter path overlooking the football pitches, the spring bedding plants at the Hough Green entrance and in the flowerbed in front of the café, and the wide variety of trees coming into leaf also added to the attractiveness of the park as summer approached.
After raising funds last year for more public seating, it is pleasing to report that three new park benches have been installed at intervals along the perimeter path so that more people, particularly those with mobility limitations and young children, can pause and enjoy the scenery and sports activities. One of the seats was kindly donated by a local resident and we have received additional offers of donations. Further donations would be greatly welcomed and the Friends of Westminster Park will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.
In response to strong interest by several sports and exercise groups, the Friends and Golfstorehouse have been active in advocating the restoration of the changing rooms in the café block and a Council renovation project is now under way. When the project is complete, effective arrangements for bookings and day to day management will be needed to ensure that the facilities are properly supervised and kept good condition. We are looking to work with the Council and park users to achieve this.
For the second time in nine months there was another unauthorised encampment by travellers in April. This was dealt with promptly and efficiently by the Council and Police and, because of the particular circumstances on this occasion, it was possible to achieve eviction within a day without the need to obtain court orders. Coming so soon after the previous incident last July has reinforced questions about the case for preventative measures and further discussions are being sought with the Council.
Although fortunately not a serious problem, there has also been a disappointing increase in vandalism, litter and anti-social behaviour in recent months. If anyone witnesses or becomes aware of such incidents please report them to our new PSCO Lauren Davies at lauren.davies@cheshire.pnn.police.ukor by calling 101. And please help to keep the park clean and tidy for everyone’s enjoyment by depositing litter and dog waste in the bins provded.
Summer’s here so make the most of the park!
David Guyton
Friends of Westminster Park
TRAVELLERS IN WESTMINSTER PARK – UPDATE
Following my previous report about another unauthorised encampment by travellers in Westminster Park, I am pleased to say that they departed earlier this afternoon, Friday, 7 April.
This was achieved as a result of commendably prompt and efficient action by the Gypsy and Traveller Team at Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Police. The travellers were known to the Police and notice was able to be served rapidly because of previous transgressions and restrictions. Local residents and park users are very grateful for this speedy response and comments from Council staff that more permanent protective measures will be considered again in the light of this latest incursion.
David Guyton
Chairman
Friends of Westminster Park
TRAVELLERS IN WESTMINSTER PARK
I am sorry to report another unauthorised encampment by travellers in Westminster Park yesterday evening, 6 April, this time comprising three vehicles and two caravans which are parked in front of the café block. The council and police were informed straightaway and they are now dealing with the matter. As trespass is a civil rather than a criminal issue, the council will be seeking court authorisation for eviction as soon as possible.
Coming only nine months after the previous incident, renewed questions are already being asked by local residents and park users as to whether more permanent protective measures are appropriate such as access barriers or a permanent injunction.
David Guyton
Chairman
Friends of Westminster Park
December Working Party
Following a succesful bulb-planting working party in November, another working party was organised in December. This time, we were pleased to be joined by an enthusiastic group of children from Belgrave Primary School and their teachers. The planting was filmed by publicity staff from Cheshire West and Chester Council and the video was shown at a Council event in January to record appreciation for the contribution of volunteers in local communities across the county. We can now look forward to a splendid display of daffodils in the spring between the car park and café block and around the sculpture next to the children’s play area. Thank you to everyone who took part in both plantings.
In response to requests for more public seating around the park, particularly for people with mobility difficulties and families with young children, three new park seats have been ordered and are now installed in time for the longer days and better weather in the spring. We are most grateful to a local resident who has donated one of the seats and to our local councillors for contributing towards the cost from their members’ budgets. If any other residents would like to donate a seat or picnic table, we would be delighted to make the arrangements.
Several sports and exercise groups in Westminster Park have expressed their desire for the changing rooms in the café block to be refurbished and brought back into use. Possibilities for doing so are being examined by the Council, Golfstorehouse as operator of the golf course and cafe, and the Friends. Everyone is aware of the financial constraints affecting all public services and the challenge is to find a workable way forward.
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David Guyton
Friends of Westminster Park
PLANTING & WEEDING – Thursday 10th November
Following the success of the volunteer working party in collecting litter and other rubbish in Westminster Park as part of the ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign earlier in the year, another volunteer working party is being held to plant spring bulbs and to tidy some of the shrub beds in Westminster Park.
We will be meeting at the café in the centre of the park at 10.00am on Thursday 10th November and working for about a couple of hours.
Please come along with family and friends to do your part in brightening up Westminster Park. Wear working clothes and stout boots or shoes and with gardening gloves if you have them. Some equipment will be available but it would also be helpful if you could bring gardening tools such as hand or border forks, spades, secateurs and loppers for your own use if you have them.
Please email if you are able to join us, so that we have an idea of numbers – we would like 20-25 helpers if possible.
We are fortunate in having Westminster Park with its wide range of sporting and recreational activities. With your help we can keep it looking at its best.
See you there!
David Guyton
Travellers have moved on
I am pleased to report that the travellers have now left Westminster Park.
A new padlock has been fitted to the gate into the playing field and the Council will be cleaning up the rubbish left behind and repairing any damage.
We extend our sympathies to local residents and users of the park who have been disrupted by the unauthorised incursion by the travellers and to Golfstorehouse whose golf course and cafe business have been adversely affected. At the same time, we are very grateful to the Council and to the police who have dealt with the incident very promptly and efficiently.
We shall be arranging a meeting shortly to review any lessons from the event and to consider any implications and means for reducing the risk of future incursions.
David Guyton
Chairman
Friends of Westminster Park
TRAVELLERS IN WESTMINSTER PARK
Many residents and park users have been asking about the unauthorised encampment in Westminster Park by a group of travellers who arrived on Sunday, 3 July.
The matter was reported promptly to Cheshire West and Chester Council and to the police who are actively dealing with it. Notice has already been served on the occupants to vacate the land by Tuesday, 5 July. If this is not carried out, the Council will apply to Chester Magistrates Court for an eviction hearing.
In reply to a number of questions, trespass on land is not a criminal offence and has to be dealt with through well established civil processes. The removal of trespassers is the responsibility of the landowners and the role of the police is to preserve the peace and prevent crime.
Two councils that we are aware of have produced general Q&A statements. These can be found at:
Cheshire East: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/housing/strategic_housing/gypsies_and_travellers.aspx
Devon: www.devon.gov.uk/gypsies_land_rights_and_issues
Equivalent documents have not been found on the Cheshire West and Chester website but the same general principles apply.
David Guyton – Chairman