| Past News | Funding Issues - Continued |
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29.04.02 Funding Issues - Continued 01.03.02 Funding Issues 27.01.02 Continue the Campaign 09.01.02 Deer 03.01.02 Articals from Local Press & Useful Links 20.12.01 What you'll miss out on next year in the Park |
For those of you who didn't know, Clissold Park now has it's own website,
www.clissoldpark.com Michelle Guimarin from Hackney Council has been working hard to implement a coherent sponsorship strategy to save the animal park and paddling pool in Clissold park. I'd like to thank Michelle for the time she has spent battling for this funding. (But of course, none of this would have been necessary if the cuts hadn't been made in such a ruthless underhanded way.) Michelle Guimarin for Hackney Council talked about the current position and short, medium and long term proposals. A review of the expense of these facilities shows that as a short term measure, if the goats are taken out (and re-housed at a nice City Farm) the deer can be managed. Money could be raised from charitable grants to maintain children's activities around the pool and butterfly tunnel. Mark White, (Clissold Park Manager) Jim Patterson (Assistant Director in Community and Learning and responsible for Parks) and Gary Thomas (Head of Parks) met to discuss the issues of the animal enclosure and cost reductions to ensure all is on track for 2002/3 budget. Mark White has also meet with people who have offered to raise funding. Three grant proposals are being submitted e.g. Children's Fund and Awards For All, which will release funding within 3-4 months. The medium term solution is to use the income from the cafˇ contract to maintain the animal enclosure and the paddling pool. The long term solution is to obtain a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Grant for both capital and revenue costs. The proposed bid is for £3.5m restoration of Clissold House and park and will take at least three years to complete. HLF usually provides funding in two stages stage one - to develop proposals further and to hold additional consultation, and stage two - to implement detailed plans. HLF have been very positive about receiving a Clissold HLF bid it will take a further 12-18 months before funding is completely secured. On the 15th of March Cllr Anderson, Ken Worpole (Chair of the Park User Group) and Park officers and Michelle Guimarin (Hackney Council) met with Sue Bowers, the Regional Heritage Lottery Fund Director, to discuss Clissold bid. (Cllr Chong was invited to attend, but he could not due to work commitments). The Heritage Lottery wanted the Council to re-work the bid, particularly in line with its suggestions and especially on the Historic Houses side. A meeting with the consultants to finish the Heritage Lottery fund application work is scheduled for April 12th at 1pm. Michelle is planning to submit a first stage bid before the end of July. On a final note, We should all be vidulant to ensure Hackney Council keeps up their end of the bargain with match funding for the Heritage Lottery Bid. (Because this is why we were unable to secure Lottery money last time). We should also be aware that if this bid fails, our Animal park will again be threatened! - Stay alert, let me know if you feel there is anything that needs reporting... We would prefer the funding for these valuable community resources were incorporated into the parks main stream budget. - Maybe when Hackney Council can find it's missing Millions, We'll get some back pay! - (Till then, we live in |
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Compleated petitions can be posted to 8 Dalecroft, 1 Queens Drive Hackney London N4 2SJ. Enquiriys can be emailed to me at banshee_kate@hotmail.com For the latest developments, look at the website www.banshee.co.uk/oh_deer Or better still, write to your MP. |
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