Well done Hyndburn Parks dept

shillelagh · 06-08-2014, 20:19

for a change instead of calling em ... we should be congratulating them .. they've won the 'prestigious' Green Flag for 7 of Hyndburn Borough Parks ... (its in last weeks accy observer)

Wilsons Playing Fields and Woodlands
Lowerfold Park
Cutwood Park
Oakhill Park
Mercer Park
Gatty Park
and Accrington Cemetery and Crematorium

They've done well ... well done!!!!

Neil · 06-08-2014, 20:53

The Parks Dept is massively under funded and under staffed. I agree they do well with what the Councillors give them but have you had a walk around some of those parks recently? Some of the paths in Oakhill are terrible and should have been re built years ago, the ponds and waterfall haven't worked for years and a very small group of volunteers have been trying to repair them with a tiny budget. The bowling Pavillion in Lowerfold needs pulling down and it had a fair chance of being rebuilt except another HBC department caused a £40,000 funding bid to fail because they acted too slowly. I could go on but won't.

Green flag sounds good but to me it should be a minimum standard all Hyndburn's parks should be at for starters and not treated as some wonderful achievement.

cashman · 06-08-2014, 21:12

Seem to recall our Market Hall getting a plaque a few years back,

If yeh buy that prestigious award crap, then yeh aint been around them places recently imho. Who actually awards these things? either somebody on a backhander or somebody that needs commiting is my guess.

Margaret Pilkington · 06-08-2014, 21:22

While you are undoubtedly right Neil......I really think that many of the parks are under used.
People(and I know this is a generalisation) often fail to value the green spaces which are dotted about the borough.
The up keep of these parks is an enormous task.....and I know that you know this.
There have been cutbacks in many vital services.....and I would hazard a guess that the upkeep of parks in the area is of a low priority.

How can this situation be overcome?
Would it be feasible for the parks to have sponsors......businesses that would be willing to invest capital in improving the paths....or other facilities within the park?
Could some of the work that is needed be done by those on community payback?

I really don't know what answers to these questions are.....but what ever the failings of the current system, the volunteers who work tirelessly (with limited funding) powered by goodwill and the desire to improve the local environment should be congratulated for their work in keeping the green spaces as good as they can make them.

I give them my thanks for what they do...and add my admiration for their efforts.
Well done.

cashman · 07-08-2014, 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I really don't know what answers to these questions are.....but what ever the failings of the current system, the volunteers who work tirelessly (with limited funding) powered by goodwill and the desire to improve the local environment should be congratulated for their work in keeping the green spaces as good as they can make them.

I give them my thanks for what they do...and add my admiration for their efforts.
Well done.

That is beyond question they do a great job,no doubt, what gets my goat,is the complete bull of these awards. we go in parks quite a bit, both here n elsewhere,

cashman · 07-08-2014, 10:11

How ironic,have just bought the Observor n theres a letter n picture about a park in it.

Gremlin · 07-08-2014, 10:41

I visit Burnley road cemetery once a week and it is always kept immaculate.
The little area where the cremation graves and stones are is always very colourful with plenty of flowers.
Yesterday I was placing flowers on June's grave and the head of the gardening department approached me and asked me what I thought of the site. I told him much I appreciated all the good work the lads do and asked him to thank them personally from me.
I can't comment on the parks as I never go there, as far as the article in the Observer is concerned unless my chips are wrapped in a copy I don't read it.

cashman · 07-08-2014, 10:56

The cemmy is always kept nice, i go yon meself regular. Perhaps cos its not a big chav magnet?

Neil · 07-08-2014, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

How ironic,have just bought the Observor n theres a letter n picture about a park in it.

What's the letter and picture about, I haven't bought it yet?

Neil · 07-08-2014, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

While you are undoubtedly right Neil......I really think that many of the parks are under used.
People(and I know this is a generalisation) often fail to value the green spaces which are dotted about the borough.

I think the parks could be used more but I think they are busy but very weather dependant. The improvements to play facilities over the last 10 or more years has helped a lot. It's nice seeing young families in the park during the day and then the school kids after school.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

The up keep of these parks is an enormous task.....and I know that you know this.
There have been cutbacks in many vital services.....and I would hazard a guess that the upkeep of parks in the area is of a low priority.

The budget cuts in parks started many years ago and it takes years to notice the paths crumbling party due to age and partly due to drainage not being kept clear because there is no one to do the work. Then when the paths become unsafe - try walking around Milnshaw or parts of Oakhill and Memorial parks - the cost is massive and the parks emergency paths repair budget so small you would laugh if I told you how much it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

How can this situation be overcome?
Would it be feasible for the parks to have sponsors......businesses that would be willing to invest capital in improving the paths....or other facilities within the park?

A lot of work is carried out using money from external funders but many of those bids require non council applications from community groups. The parks dept are amazing in the support they give to community groups because they fully understand the returns they get is massive compared to the cost of officer time assisting groups. Beside that the work is being done in HBC parks so they have to make sure the work is appropriate, maintainable and to the correct standard.
It's other departments, some officers and councillors who don't understand how the systems work that can often cause problems. I was recently asked by a none parks council officer to insist that a funder told us the terms and conditions of the bid we were applying for. Those that know about these things understand that terms and conditions can often be different for each project and can be set by a grants panel to ensure the work is done a certain way. We had to withdraw that £40,000 bid because other council departments couldn't meet the application deadline - they only had about 4 months to sort it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Could some of the work that is needed be done by those on community payback?

Not sure on the current situation with community payback. I think the LCC appointed officer was withdrawn and they had to be managed locally which was causing some problems. I think they have done some work locally but will have to find out about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I really don't know what answers to these questions are.....but what ever the failings of the current system, the volunteers who work tirelessly (with limited funding) powered by goodwill and the desire to improve the local environment should be congratulated for their work in keeping the green spaces as good as they can make them.

I give them my thanks for what they do...and add my admiration for their efforts.
Well done.

I second your comments and it would be nice to see more people getting involved, especially younger ones to take over and carry on the good work being done.

Sorry for the long post and any ranting I may have done