Councillor Charlie Rooney, (THE LOONY) Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration and economic development
PEOPLE LOVE PARKSPeople love parks
Between four and five billion visits are made to parks each year and 50% of the population visit a park at least once a week.
NOT IF YOU'RE A LOONY CALLED ROONEY MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
People love parks
Between four and five billion visits are made to parks each year and 50% of the population visit a park at least once a week.
“These are difficult times. It would be terrible if parks budgets were cut. All the good work of the last 15 years could so easily be undone. So we would urge people to voice their passion for their local park. Write a letter to the council, join a Friends Group or get involved with what’s happening or not happening in your park. We can all help make sure public parks are a priority.”
Six parks celebrate £18million**
The six public parks celebrating awards today are:
Spinney Hill Park, Leicester
Stewart Park, Middlesbrough
St James' Park, Southampton
Howard Park and Gardens, Letchworth Garden City
Stamford Park, Tameside
Queens Park, Bolton
http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/parksforpeople.aspx
Taxpayers face £86,000-a-year bill for empty building
8:00am Monday 3rd October 2011
AN empty grade I-listed building is costing a cash-strapped town £86,000 a year to secure until it is sold to a developer.
Acklam Hall, in Middlesbrough,which was built in 1628, is expected to be restored and used as a conference centre with a health village and housing in its grounds.
However, as certain parts of the contract have had to be renegotiated and the developer has not yet met the necessary conservation and design standards required by English Heritage, a planning application has yet to be submitted.
The only grade I-listed building in the town, owned by Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough College, Acklam Hall has been vacant for three years.
Originally built by William Hustler as a family home, it has been in public ownership since 1935, occupied by Kings Manor School and then Middlesbrough College until students moved into a new campus in Middlehaven.
Mike Hopkins, principal of Middlesbrough College, said: “Of course the college regrets any spend that is not directly improving the student experience here at Middlesbrough College. However, we do recognise that as custodians of the only grade I-listed building in Middlesbrough, we also have an obligation to ensure this fantastic heritage is secured and maintained for the benefit of future generations.”
The co-owners of the Restoration mansion are jointly footing the bill for 24- hour security which was stepped up in January to manage risks to the site.
Out of Middlesbrough’s 23 council wards, 16 are deprived and five are ranked among the top one per cent in the country for social deprivation.
Middlesbrough Council is forced to slash £50m from its budget over four years resulting in the loss of services and hundreds of public sector jobs.
It is believed the Heritage Lottery Fund is questioning the six-month winter closure of Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, in Stewart Park, after it granted the attraction more than £800,000 to ensure visitor numbers are sustained while the park underwent a major revamp.
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “Acklam Hall is a hugely important part of Middlesbrough’s heritage and we have undertaken all necessary measures to protect its future.”
Emma Boon, campaign director at the Taypayers’ Alliance said: “It’s right that this building should be protected from vandals so that its value isn’t degraded.
But taxpayers’ money has been wasted by not dealing with this empty building more quickly".
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9 ... _building/
Middlesbrough's Stewart Park restoration takes shape
Civil contractor Hellens removed the existing bridges and de-silted the park's upper ponds
Work on an £8m restoration project of Stewart Park in Middlesbrough is starting to take shape.
The multi-million pound grant will improve the park's lakes, paths and woodland area and many of its Victorian buildings will be opened up to the public.
This week two new timber bridges were put into place, restoring the ponds to their original Victorian outlines.
The restoration work is due to be completed by next spring.
There will also be a new visitor centre, education venue, shop, training workshops and public event spaces.
Stewart Park Manager Dave Miller, said: "Stewart Park is an asset not just for Middlesbrough, but for the region as a whole, so it's great to see the restoration and development work really starting to take shape.
Its connection with explorer Captain Cook attracts thousands of visitors
"The park has always been a popular family attraction, but these major improvements to the lakes, paths, woodland and estate buildings will make it more popular and accessible than ever."
Opened to the public in 1928, the 47-hectare (116-acre) park is most famous as the birthplace of explorer Captain James Cook.
The site of his cottage is marked by a granite vase in the nearby Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.
Stewart Park was originally laid out as a manor house and deer park in the early 1800s by a wealthy army major, with the entire village of East Marton removed to create it.
The park was once in the ownership of Middlesbrough iron magnate Henry Bolckow in the 19th Century, but it was handed over to Middlesbrough residents and formally opened in 1928.
The transformation of the park was boosted by a grant of £4.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-14386001
In October 2009 Stewart Park was awarded £4.4million to help give the park a 21st Century make over.
The park was once in the ownership of Middlesbrough iron magnate Henry Bolckow in the nineteenth century.
His elegant Marton Hall was the centrepiece of the estate, which was purchased by Councillor Dormand Stewart in the 1920’s.
He gave the parkland and hall to Middlesbrough residents and Stewart Park formally opened in 1928.
Unfortunately the hall was demolished in1960 after a fire.
The beautiful stable block and range of estate workshops built for Bolckow still stands and is the main focus of the project.
The project will see the buildings transformed with a new visitor centre, education venue, shop, training workshops, gardens and a public events space.
A separate project will see the development of a horticultural training centre to accommodate adults with disabilities, council apprentices and the general public.
The creation of a small tea room which will enable catering students to practice their skills and the revitalisation of the Victorian walled garden.
New paths will be installed therefore creating a perimeter park walk.
Work on the all the lakes includes reinstating the lakes to their former sizes and improving the planting.
There will also be a new play area with a Captain Cook theme including equipment for both toddlers and older children.
There will also be an area for natural play. In close proximity will be the Captain Cook interpretation area highlighting his voyages.
You may already have noticed the new animal enclosures and work starting on the car park.
Family wood, Upper Lakes and Lower Lake are not accessible whilst work is underway.
Please note some footpaths are closed in these areas whilst work is taking place. But please come and enjoy the park!
We are able to come out and give a powerpoint presentation on the developments for community groups.
Are you interested in what’s happening? We can also do tours for groups. These do have to be booked and sometimes some areas may not be accessible. Please phone The Education and Events Officer, Francine Marshall on 01642 300202.
The remaining money will come from Middlesbrough Council, the Trustees of Stewart Park, the government's Playbuilder scheme,
the Healthy Town Programme and Middlesbrough College.
http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/nav ... d-project/
