Brouhaha over Clissold Park makeover
Eighteenth century Clissold House, as foreseen under the new plans
PARK users will walk about in Georgian pleasure gardens and enjoy an “extended” New River complete with its familiar array of wildlife – seven foot eels and carp – following massive changes to Clissold Park as part of an £8.9million makeover.
Eighteenth century Clissold Mansion will be restored as part of the project, to be carried out by Hackney Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The scheme, which is due to be completed in summer 2011, has been welcomed by many – but it has sparked concern in some quarters, not least regarding the fate of the aforementioned pond life.
The ambitious project got the go-ahead on 9 June and will be one of the park’s most extensive developments since it opened in July 1889 as a “lung of the metropolis”. The famous mansion is due to be restored, with all three of its floors thrown open to the public.
Four of the restored function rooms will open for public use, and available for hire. Other notable developments will include extending the New River, removing the rose garden and replacing it with a “Georgian pleasure garden”, enlarging the deer enclosure, adding a skate park near Queen Elizabeth’s Walk and removing Redgra (a specialist sports surfacing material) in the sports areas.
Park users are largely enthusiastic about the scheme, which received widespread support during the council’s consultation. But as plans have developed, concerns have arisen.
During a recent Clissold Park Users Group meeting, it became apparent that the changes will mean extra maintenance for what some see as an already short staffed and under-funded green space.
The annual revenue budget for Clissold Park and House is currently £518,000 (2009/10 expenditure, less income). This excludes parks management costs and café rental income. Included within the £518,000 is £396,000 for staffing -14.35 full time equivalent park rangers and gardeners, etc), and a £40,000 provision for repairs and maintenance.
The wisdom of extending the New River has been questioned, with local resident and park user Penny Crick remarking, “This may very well turn out to be an expensive extension of green sludge, as no one seems to know how to control the algae and duckweed – which are rampant”.
The lakes are due to be dredged as part of the project, sparking fears that a displaced rat population might settle in local gardens.
Defending the plans, Hackney Council has stated that they have secured five year funding for four new positions and that all current park jobs are safe.
Karen Alcock, Deputy Mayor for Hackney and councillor for Clissold ward, reminded the park’s denizens that she herself is a user of the beloved green space, who, like others, has struggled to get her buggy up the cafe steps. She also stressed that there are inevitably problems in any large-scale development such as this.
There was also concern mover the welfare of the park’s eels and carp, in response to proposals to move all the pond life into a single lake whilst the other is de-silted. The fate of the park’s plant life was also raised – the rose bushes and Japanese maple in particular. Heritage Lottery Fund manager Simon Biss said that, regarding the roses, talks were ongoing with the vicar of St. Mary’s Church about whether these could be moved to their yard.
There are also serious fears over the lack of sports areas. Stoke Newington School is said to have grave concerns about what the removal of the Redgra means for their PE lessons, many of which are taught in the park. Moreover, in order to regulate people’s usage, there is to be a new booking system for any use of the park’s sports areas.
It remains to be seen whether Clissold Park will become a beautiful-looking but difficult-to-maintain park with less space for the fun and enjoyment of the everyday people who use it.
However, with sufficient resources, the original vision of a place where all people can come for a peaceful break or exercise, can be preserved.
Letter: Clissold Park concerns