News
Copies of all past Minutes, Newsletters and Reports are to be found in the Archive.
Volunteers Group
A reminder that the next Volunteers Group session will be Thursday 16th September. For further details of where to meet etc, or if you wish to join in and help, please contact the Hon. Secretary.
Central Cross Drive Cafe and Pittville Park Boathouse
There have been two items in the Public Notices section of the Glos. Echo, yesterday and today (24th & 25th August).
The first is to give notice that the Borough Council is 'considering disposing, by way of leases', the two buildings noted above.
The second is to invite 'initial expressions of interest from small scale caterers or individuals who would like to run one or all of these catering facilities....'. Click here for further information.
Initial expressions of interest have to be in no later than Tuesday 7 September. The public is asked to register any objection to outsourcing the running of these facilities by 9am on 14 September.
The Chairman and Secretary attended a focus group in January this year where representatives of groups such as FoP were asked to think about what was wanted from the catering facilities and the implications of outsourcing these, rather than running them in-house, as the Borough Council does now. Prior to this, the Executive Committee had discussed catering facilities in Pittville Park (Refer Minutes 11 November 2009 para 3.2; 8 January 2010, para 6.1; and subsequently 16 February, para 4.2 and 6)
and as a committee we pooled our views for the focus group.
We are pleased to see that some of our views, and those of the focus group, have been taken into account, e.g. they are looking for smaller scale caterers or individuals rather than large national or international companies; the current set of products is to be maintained (and presumably prices kept as they are now).
If you wish to object to the outsourcing write to Sara Freckleton, Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 9SA , giving your reasons for opposing it.
Latest on the Bridge over the Lower Lake
The following information has been sent by the Borough Council about the bridge across the Lower Lake. I quote:
"You will be pleased to hear we are moving the project forward again with a view to taking a more direct role in managing and supervising the work, and tendering the work in smaller packages with the specialist companies, i.e. piling, abutments and bridge fabrication. This will hopefully eliminate some of the costs associated with the engagment of a principal contractor. If this brings about the required cost reduction as anticipated then a revised programme could entail the piling and abutments going into position before Christmas with the bridge following on in Spring 2011 when the weather and ground conditions permit. If this approach isn't successful we will need to consider what our next steps should be. Hope this is useful for now."
Boathouse
We have been told that the building will be repaired in the autumn/winter. This is so it can remain open in the summer, especially during the school holidays.
Minutes of Excom Meeting - 3 August 2010
The minutes are now available by clicking here.
Cheltenham Local History Society July Newsletter
CLHS has kindly sent us a copy of their latest Newsletter, which you can read by clicking here.
Summer Events - Update
I have posted some more events taking place in the area over the summer period. Lots more in July and August for Mum's and children, plus older teenagers also.
July e-Newsletter
Just click here for the latest e-Newsletter.
Summer Orienteering in the Park
Click here for more details.
Press Release From Cheltenham Borough Council
Proposed new Community bridge: Lower Lake, Pittville Park
"In response to an advert inviting interested companies to contact the council’s Procurement team, 33 national and local companies confirmed that they were interested in tendering for the role of Principal Contractor for this project. Detailed tender documents were sent out to each company on 1 April and 14 completed tenders were returned by the closing date of 30 April.
Following careful evaluation of the tenders, the Parks Department of Cheltenham Borough council has regretfully cancelled the procurement process, in response to the unexpectedly high costs of the tenders. All tenders significantly exceeded the agreed budget for the work. The department is currently reviewing all costs associated with the project in order to identify areas where significant costs reductions maybe achieved, and how additional funding might be secured.
Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for Sustainability, added: “The increased costs resulted from design improvements, but we are looking at ways to reduce costs, especially in management of the project, which do not compromise the good aesthetic design which was approved.""
Friends of Pittville Executive Committee have stated: "The news that the procurement process for the community bridge has been cancelled was a great shock and disappointment. Friends of Pittville is also concerned at what has happened. We are surprised that the quotes from the 14 contractors are so far off the mark and have asked the borough council for information, such as why this might have occurred, a breakdown of the budget, what their initial thoughts are on where costs can be cut, and what the shortfall is for the preferred contractor, assuming nothing was cut. Another concern is whether the money set aside for the bridge by CBC is ring-fenced and if so, for how long? Might we be faced with another situation where money everyone thought was for Pittville Park is then used to pay for something else?
We have asked if starting afresh should be considered. Several of our members have suggested that the bridge need not be so ornate, that we could have a simple footbridge; that an organisation such as the army could be invited to build it as a training exercise, as the former bridge had been; that alternative materials could be found which are similarly resistant to damage etc. This would not be our preferred option but, if in the end, it were cheaper than continuing down the original route, it would be worth considering.
We hope that the borough council will be able to resolve this dilemma quickly, and have offered our assistance should it be required."
We will keep you informed about progress, as soon as we receive information.
David Prince, County Councillor for Oakley, Prestbury and Pittville (PAB), says “The design of this bridge has been tarted up so many times. All we want is a crossing, point, not something that looks like it has come down in a spaceship.” He said the news is a “kick in the teeth" for the Friends of Pittville, who had campaigned tirelessly for improvements.
He added: "The more that is spent on designers and consultants, the smaller the funding pot gets."
Ward and County Councillor Diane Hibbert says “The Council has already spent in excess of £30,000 on the community bridge project. Whilst we know that there is a significant gap between the remaining funds available and the tenders for the construction of the bridge, I am sure that the Council will find a way of completing this work and provide a suitable bridge to cross the lake in Pittville Park. Abandoning the project at this stage would be a complete waste of the money that has already been spent.”
Ward Councillor Tim Cooper says "I hope Cheltenham Borough Council can come up with a design that fits within the budget and is pleasing to the eye - I prefer a more traditional design and look forward to seeing the new plans."
You may also feel you would like to express your opinions directly to Cllr. Whyborn.
Reliable sources have confirmed that nearly £36,000 has already been spent on consultants etc.
Click here for what the Echo says.
Band Music in the Pump Rooms
There will be more "Bands in the Parks" performances in the Pittville Pump Rooms again this summer, with 5 performances planned for June - August. Concerts will start at 2.30 p.m. and finish around 4.30 p.m.
Click here for the dates.
Revised Design for Bridge over Lower Lake, Pittville Park.
Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) withdrew the original design as a result of negative feedback about the design.
They have now submitted a revised design:
Click here to download 3 larger views of the design.
The original Planning reference remains valid, see below. These new drawing are also now available on the CBC website.
We would strongly suggest that you consider this newly submitted design and send your support / objections directly to the Planning Office. Perhaps you might also like to let us know what you think by contacting the Secretary on secretary@friendsofpittville.org.
Pittville Park - Tree Walk
Cheltenham Borough Council have produced a leaflet with a guided walk around some of the trees in the East side of the Park, in front of the Pump Room. You can download this leaflet by clicking on this link. The link can also be found in the Archives.
A Guided Walk around Pittville
You can click here to find information on this guided 2 mile stroll around the historical parts of the original Pittville Estate.
Membership
We have an online application form to join the Friends. Just click here to download it. Come and join us and have your say in the future of the Pittville Park and Estate
In the meantime, if you would like to know more, just send an email to secretary@friendsofpittville.org.