Ken Worpole introduced the meeting and the agenda for discussion.

Ranger moved from Park - no reply has yet been received from our letter to Ian Hook about the unwelcome move of Ranger Maureen Purcell from Clissold park.

Events -We were pleased to meet Stan White who has responsibility for Events taking place in Hackney Parks. Mark has a list of applications for events in the Park for next year and will set up an Events group involving park users to discuss any problems arising or anticipated. Events organisers can then be contacted to discuss these.

Lottery Bid - No news. Ken not yet heard from John Hudson about any developments or discussions about this within Hackney.

Café - announced with regret that the Café would be closed from 22nd December. It has been running at a major loss which has eaten into the Park budget. Details about the agent organising the leasing of the café are displayed outside café and application packs to any interested parties will be going out soon. Hopefully café will reopen within 2 months. User group will have involvement in selection of new café management. Mark was asked if he would ensure that a big notice about the café and what is happening be displayed. ACTION: Mark White Discussion about possible self financing interim arrangements e.g. hot drinks from Nature Room to be organised by Rangers, advantage of having the building seen to be in use to discourage vandalism & graffiti. Mark interested in this idea and will look into the practicalities. ACTION: Mark White A petition from Café users expressing dismay at this closure with over 1800 signatures was presented. Ken will act on this and make clear the urgent necessity for getting all the leasing arrangements to be good, effective and acted upon as soon as possible. ACTION: Ken Worpole

Cuts and Closures - Seemed to be a bit of confusion about whether councillors did or did not vote for cuts that would affect the Park on their meeting of 27th November. But Ken had spoken directly with Ian Hook the Director of Community and Leisure who had stated that the Animal Enclosure was to be closed, the Paddling Pool was to be closed but that maybe the Bowls green would be reprieved. Mark White said that he was under instruction to make plans accordingly from March, although not yet in writing. The cost of the Animal Enclosure is about £35k a year (a full time worker plus other expenses) and the Pool needs maintenance, water charges for changes of water, £4,000 a year for chemicals to treat water. Government audit currently dictates expenditure and cuts. Much discussion ensued. Point made that once they go, they will not be reinstated - loss of the Paddling Pool is loss of the future vision that our children will have of the Park. An historically significant animal enclosure, quite apart from pleasure gained by children and their families. What would happen to the fenced off area vacated by animals? Open it up? Who would maintain it? manage it? note New River runs through it, implications for safety, aesthetics, etc. This decision must be reconsidered and relevant people must have these issues drawn to their attention. It was decided that the CPUG would lead a campaign of letter writing and lobbying. ACTION Ken Worpole, Kate Last and Ray Harvey. Sally Keeble is relevant Minister at House of Commons, contact CPUG via Rangers Office Clissold House for other names of people to be lobbied and see: www.banshee.co.uk/oh_deer

Hackney Parks Forum - Ken attended a meeting of other Park user groups in Hackney recently and the general feeling was that Parks in Hackney might better be run by an independent Trust. Everyone is fed up with Hackney Council´s mismanagement. An appalling example of Hackney´s recent behaviour was that a community group in Shoreditch lost the opportunity of a £2Million grant for their Park because Hackney were not willing to simply say that they would maintain the improved Park!

Sports - in the Park Very significant and frequent users of the Park are those who are involved in organised Sport e.g. Football, Tennis, Cricket, Bowls, Baseball etc. Ken proposed that the user group specifically invite those involved to come to user group meetings and that we deal with one sport per meeting in the next few months. Next meeting will be about FOOTBALL. Discussion will include use of Red Gra for football in wet weather. Following meetings will take Tennis and Cricket. Aim is to improve the facilities for sports users and in so doing make the most of the Park and its resources. Of relevance here is Ian Hook´s assurance to Ken that he will be working in the New Year on a strategy for Parks in Hackney and this will result in a management plan for Clissold Park. A vision for the future of our Park in the interests of all it´s users will be a vital contribution that we can make to this. It was also noted that in the original proposal for Clissold Leisure Centre, changing facilities will be available for sports in the Park. Ken will follow this up. We have funds available for activities involving youth - applications to be invited from sports groups. Action Barbara.

Lunchtime problems in the Park - Concern expressed about behaviour of teenagers from local schools in the Park and children´s playground at lunchtimes. Liaison with local school is good, park users are assured that they can contact headteacher at Stoke Newington School - phone number in Rangers office - and police if necessary.

11 am Saturday,
26th January 2002

Red Room, rear of
Clissold Park Café

NEXT MEETING

11 am Saturday,
26th January 2002

EVERYONE WHO USES CLISSOLD PARK IS A MEMBER OF THE USER GROUP.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION www.clissoldpark.com or c/o Rangers Office Clissold House