APRIL NEWSLETTER 2009

Dear Park Users

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held Thursday 26th March 2009 at the Hothouse, 274 Richmond Road E8

27 people attended the meeting. Ivor Benjamin was invited to chair the meeting by the Chair, Mike Martin. Ivor introduced the prior committee, Mike Martin - Chair, Alan Rossiter - Vice-Chair, Al Hepworth – Secretary and himself – Treasurer and welcomed all park users to the meeting.

Ros Brewer, Green Flag judge and Landscape Development manager for Tower Hamlets, who was responsible for organising and finding funding for the November bulb planting, was then invited to address the meeting. Ros discussed the prestige of the green flag award scheme for parks, how she felt London Fields had achieved accreditation and the criteria for further improvement. It is great to have an expert devote time to our park.

The Chair then gave an ANNUAL REPORT detailing briefly some of the group’s achievements to date (attached).

ELECTIONS The meeting Chair then invited members to engage in the election of a new committee. All candidates stood unopposed and all park users present agreed upon their election, except in the case of Environment and Lido, where a job share by two members was unanimously agreed.

The 2009 LFUG election result is as follows:

Mike Martin – Chair; Alan Rossiter - Vice Chair; Ivor Benjamin - Treasurer; Al Hepworth – Secretary; Sid B & Martin C share the - Environment post; Georgina P – Youth; Louise T – Sports; Michael D – Events; Oliver B – Communications; Oona B – Horticulture; Helen K & Michala E share the Lido position.

All were proposed and seconded from the floor and accepted unanimously for the new committee.

London Fields park supervisor Chris Tsentides was then invited to answer questions about supervision and maintenance of the park:

Rangers When are the Ranger on duty? Chris told members of their shift patterns 7am-3pm and 3pm-8pm, 7 days a week. At any one time there should be at least two rangers working. Hackney is in the process of taking on new rangers.

Rubbish Bins Members made a request for the extra large rubbish bins to be returned, especially for weekends. Chris agreed that the bins would definitely be back for the summer months and there was a possibility of adding further bins for the months when occupancy of the park is high. A request was made by some people for recycling bins inside the park. Something the user group had opposed in the past and we already have them at strategic entrances. Chris said this was a possibility and he would take the issue up further.

Toilets Members asked Chris why the male toilets have been closed for the winter and if they would reopen. He responded that works have been delayed by parts now on order and that the toilet should reopen within the next two weeks. There was some discussion of the need for further monitoring of the toilets to prevent the regular vandalism (we were told at a previous meeting that this was costing up to £600 a month). Members asked if there could be a return of the cleaning rota on the walls of both male and female toilets, Chris said he would investigate further.

Dog Toilets There was discussion of the previous “dog toilet zone” (hedged areas near some of the entrances) and the need for greater monitoring of dog waste in the park. It was agreed that between members and Chris, that more dog waste bins (the previous ones – about 30 - were all stolen in one night) dog waste bags and greater enforcement was needed to keep the park clean. It was suggested that this is promoted within the dog owner community who use the park. A member also asked about the possibility of a composting dog toilet and the meeting Chair agreed this was to be brought up at the first committee meeting.

 Chris was then thanked for his time and input and.

CONSTITUTION The meeting Chair then brought the minor amended sections of the Group’s Constitution to the attention of members for the vote. All red wording additions were agreed and passed. After discussion, it was agreed that no further changes to the constitution could be made without prior consultation. If any more alterations were required to the Constitution, such as to accommodate funding, a further public meeting would be called.

GENERAL DISCUSSION The meeting was then opened for general discussion of the points brought up by users:

Paths and fences in the north field Jim, a cricket devotee described how a path was been worn through the south of the cricket pitch as a shortcut from Pub on the Park to the Lido & Gayhurst School. This increased wear has been a concern for some time. He also expressed concern for park users being injured when walking or sitting within the cricket outfield during the summer months. The erection of a fence or the blocking of this path was discussed. Some members mentioned that a piece of fence maybe missing from next to the Pub on the Park, promoting the movement of customers to this shortcut. This area is council property and should be raised with parks management

Park Keepers Lodge The User Group proposals for this building currently include using the upper floor as park Rangers and maintenance offices and lower floor as a public meeting room and ecology centre for local youngsters, with storage for sports equipment and preferably the addition of a café next door. One member proposed seeking the return of the building to provide council housing.

Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) Members discussed the stance of the group toward the building of a multi-use games pitch in the south of the park. The meeting Chair and group Chair said that the group has historically supported the development as a partial replacement of previous facilities. Jim reminded us that the Fields were surrounded by hundreds of flats with many young teenagers who needed sports facilities. While Peter Snell who reorganised the User Group 23 years ago, said how there had always been sports facilities on the Fields. He had resurrected the User Group in order to improve and increase these facilities.

 Sid B, Martin C and Nicola S, all said it was in the wrong place – on common land – was inappropriate, etc. The Chair relayed to the group that though the project has passed Hackney’s own planning procedures and had passed to the Planning Inspectorate and DEFRA, it is still in planning stages and as such, the public may take up any issues with these. Any objections or representations should be sent in writing before the 20th of April to:

The Planning Inspectorate, Room 4/05 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PM.

We had gone over time, so the Chair thanked the members for attending and committee for their support and the meeting closed.