Venue: St Thomas Church Hall
Date: Thursday 20 February 2025
Present (25): Christine (chair), Steve (secretary), Catherine, Gulle, John, Jason (all committee); Vanessa, Matthieu, Jane, Trevor, Iris, Elen, Jose, David, Tina, Anthony, Susan, Glenda, Carol, Hazel, Julie, Emma, Gary, Jim, Owen
1. Welcome: Christine welcomed our largest gathering since January 2011.
2. Apologies: (4): Natalie (treasurer), Mickey, Barbara McA, Cllr van den Broek.
3. Minutes of last meeting (November 2024): Accepted. The Safer Neighbourhood Team have told us that monitoring the parks remains a priority. There is no update on the Council’s campaign on dog walking.
4. Future of the Animal Park and toilets: In January the Council announced for the second time in 14 years that the Animal Park in Maryon Wilson Park would be closed and most of the animals rehoused unless the community could take over the running of it, to save an estimated £70,000 per year. A community-led campaign under the banner of SOAP (Save Our Animal Park) produced a petition of over 10,000 signatures and led to the Council reversing their decision.
The meeting was warned that after next year’s Council elections, it was possible that the Animal Park could again be a target for cuts in future budgets. It was generally agreed that having the local community taking responsibility for financing and running the AP was not practical.
Suggestions included: sponsorship; allocating some of the £28.6million of pounds of Section 106 money reported to be unspent (latest issue of www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk); involving Lovells (the company redeveloping the two large local estates); discovering the exact costs required (Freedom of Information request?); more generally, Council raising the profile of the AP through greater publicity and improving the condition of the park (see next item).
This led to the familiar issue of the toilet block, which has lain derelict for decades, becoming more expensive to repair with each passing year. Lack of toilets – or even signs to those in Maryon Park – was considered a deterrent to families and other park visitors. Could apprentices from Lovells be employed for practical experience in a renovation? In the meantime could even a few portaloos be used?
5. Report on a walkabout with Council officers: Three members of the Friends’ committee recently walked through the parks with Council officers representing the Rangers and the Maintenance department (a Tree representative had to withdraw). Summary of issues raised:
Clearing paths, cutting back growth, preventing creep of brambles, remove tarpaulin from derelict toilet block, bird enclosure scruffy and muddy, clear the ‘den’ in Gilbert’s Pit, four dead or dying trees pointed out, full rubbish bin and flytipping in Barrier Park, suggestions for work next autumn.
We will try to monitor when these are carried out.
6. Other news in brief: a) The Parks Forum AGM is on Feb 27th which we hope to attend to discuss their new Manifesto. b) Local Scouts may be available for our next Litter-pick/ Clear-up on March 1st.
7. Community Garden news – full report attached.
8. Treasurer’s report: After paying for hire of the hall the balance is £532.48
9. Any other business: None.
10. Diary dates:
Clear-up and Litter-picks: Saturday March 1st and Saturday April 5th (10am)
AGM: Thursday April 3rd at St Thomas Hall, 7.15 for 7.30. Nominations, volunteers for a Secretary and Committee members needed. Please reply to this email.
Steve Tongue, Secretary
Email: Friendsofmaryonparks@gmail.com
Website: FriendsofMaryonParks.org
Facebook: Friends of Maryon and Maryon Wilson Parks
Friends Of Maryon Park and Maryon Wilson Park 