Friends of Longford Park (FOLP)

Posted by rylands on June 18th, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid, The Archives

As reported in the Stretford and Urmston Messenger Wednesday 17th June 2008 2pm(View the Article)

THE historic Longford Park is in need of a massive facelift - and needs your help.

The Friends of Longford Park and Trafford Council are aiming to put forward a £2 million lottery bid in September to breathe new life into the park - and they need public support to impress the decision makers on how much the park matters to local residents.

Work is already ongoing, with £80,000 being spent on the children’s playground, and £700,00 has already been put aside to match fund any successful bid.

There are already impressive plans to revitalise the park, including the Japanese garden, pet’s corner and the art deco bowls shelters, but the Friends now want to hear from the public on what they would like to see.

The Friends’ AGM meets at Longford Stadium, Longford Park on June 26, starting at 7.30pm. All welcome

Posted by rylands on June 3rd, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

The following news release was issued by Trafford Council on the 3rd June 2008 :-

Trafford Council remain determined to succeed on their re application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the £2 million ‘Parks for People’ bid for the restoration of Longford Park.

Trafford Council are undeterred by their first rejected submission for funding and emphasise the bid was highly competitive and it is not uncommon for bids to be rejected at first submission. The case officer from Heritage Lottery Fund recommended the bid for approval to the board of HLF trustees recognising Trafford submitted a high quality bid with strong community involvement, strong financial viability and high matching fund levels with key criteria’s being met at the highest possible level.

The council could not have developed and submitted a high quality bid without the support, effort and hard work from the numerous partners and park users who supported the application. All the information and support the council has received through letters, consultations or with community activities and events at the Park are invaluable in showing the HLF trustees that Longford Park is deserving of major funding support.

Executive councillor, Jonathan Coupe said: “Council officials have been working closely with senior Heritage Lottery Fund officials. A fresh submission will be made in September to present an even better quality bid focused on local need and reflecting the parks past and its future. The full support and commitment from the local community has been a real strength which HLF have recognised. To be successful in our second attempt we will need to draw on this local commitment and we ask everyone to rally behind a bid that has stiff national competition”

Chair of Friends of Longford Park, Angela Elphick said: “The council have worked very hard over the past two years preparing the bid and the council have kept Friends of Longford Park updated with consultations through out”

To make sure Trafford has the best possible bid, council officials will be at the Stretford Neighbourhood Forum on the 10th June to speak with the local community and to provide further updates on the progress of the HLF bid and wider parks updates in partnership with the Friends of Longford Park.

Posted by rylands on June 2nd, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

Posted by rylands on May 31st, 2008 in Longford Park in the News, The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

As reported in the South Manchester Reporter by Marie Burchill 29/ 5/2008 (View the Article)

Conservationists from Longford Park have vowed to fight on after being told that their £2 million lottery bid has been unsuccessful.

Members of the Friends of Longford Park and bosses at Trafford Council had submitted their bid to bosses at the Heritage Lottery Fund back in April – in the hope that the massive cash injection would allow them to restore the park to it’s former Victorian glory.

However, conservationists have now been dealt a hammer blow, after lottery chiefs revealed that their bid had been unsuccessful.

Despite the knock-back, the Friends have said that they remain ‘undeterred’ in their aim to get the funding, which will allow them to restore many of the park’s rich historical and cultural features.

They are already working, together with Trafford Council, to draw up another bid – which they hope to submit to lottery chiefs in September.

Angela Elphick, of the Friends of Longford Park group, said: “We worked very closely with Trafford Council to get this bid together and we are all very disappointed that it has been rejected. Members of Trafford Council put a lot of effort into the bid and I can’t fault them at all.

“The park is now in a very sorry state. The majority of people had been banking on this money becoming available so that something could be done to turn the park’s fortunes around.

“But now it has become clear that we are not going to be getting the funding any time soon, people are becoming increasingly angry and want some action to be taken to improve the condition of Longford Park.

“Because of this general feeling we are not discouraged, as we know that everybody will join forces to turn this decision around.”

John Lamb, director of operations at Trafford Council, said: “The council are undeterred in their current application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their £2 million bid for the restoration of Longford Park. The Heritage Lottery Fund recognised that we submitted a high quality bid that possessed strong community involvement, strong financial viability and high match funding levels.

“The council will be re-submitting the application in September.

“We appreciate it is a highly competitive process, but with the support, effort and hard work of the numerous partners and park users we remain confident of a successful bid.”

Sara Hilton, Heritage Lottery Fund manager for the North West, said: “We realise that this is disappointing news. “While the application for Longford Park met the funding criteria, there were a number of other projects which were considered to deliver more comprehensive conservation, participation and learning benefits.

“We have already held further discussions with council representatives to explore ways forward and have offered on-going support if they decide to submit a further application.”

The Friends group will hold a meeting at the neighbourhood forum on Tuesday, June 10 in Trafford Town Hall to discuss the future of Longford Park. It will take place between 6pm and 8pm. For more information, call Angela Elphick on 0161 864 1326.

Posted by rylands on May 31st, 2008 in Longford Park in the News, The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

As reported in the Stretford and Urmston Messenger by Robert Downes 10:00am Thursday 22nd May 2008(View the Article)

ONE of Trafford’s oldest and largest urban parks failed for a third time in a row to access Lottery funding for major improvements there.

News the two million pound bid, put together by the council to breathe new life into crumbling Longford Park had failed, was announced last Friday.

The money would have paid for major improvement work at the sprawling Edge Lane venue, including a new cafe, working toilets, improved play equipment, the relaying of pathways, planting and general repairs.

The rejection of the bid was greeted with anger by park users.

Mum of three, Kay Rooney, who lives in Cromwell Road, said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. The council are letting the park deteriorate rapidly. The play area’s equipment is unsafe and there are walls falling down everywhere.”

She added: “There’s graffiti, empty flowers beds, broken glass on the floor, the toilets are always closed, and the car park is only part surfaced. Why has this bid failed again?”

The Friends of Longford Park, who were consulted on the latest bid, were also unhappy at the decision. The group’s Angela Elfick said: “We were very disappointed with the outcome. We’re still waiting to hear from our contact at Trafford Council on where we go next.”

But John Lamb, director of operations at the town hall, said the council were “undeterred” and would reapply in the autumn, although it was unclear if the bid would be altered in anyway. “We appreciate it is a highly competitive process, but with the support, effort and hard work of the numerous partners and park users we remain confident of a successful bid,” he told SUM.

“The Heritage Lottery Fund recognised that Trafford submitted a high quality bid that possessed strong community involvement, strong financial viability and high match funding levels, and we remain undeterred.”

Posted by rylands on April 20th, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

The Friends of Longford Park have been supporting Trafford MBC with a multi-million pound application to restore Longford Park to its former glory and also provide up to date facilities. This vital cash injection would restore the many heritage features such as the landscape, the stable block and bungalow. Initial proposals include new performance spaces, youth facilities such as a skate park, a multi-use games area, refurbished play areas and upgrading the pets’ corner.

There are further proposals for a cafe and improvements to the general infrastructure including parking, paths, drainage, planting and to communicate the rich history and cultural value of the park.

The park would also benefit from new staff such as a site based park manager and two park rangers who would help with events to involve hard to reach groups and provide a safety role.

It is hoped that by April 2008 we will have an important update on the progress of the Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

Posted by rylands on April 19th, 2008 in Longford Park in the News, The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

As reported by the Trafford Metro News on the 18/04/2008:

Stretford’s Longford Park has bid for a £2.5m slice of the Heritage Lottery Fund – and, if successful, the cash would see the park’s cultural and historical features preserved for future generations.

Plans include a new visitor centre in the old stable blocks, while a dilapidated bungalow near the children’s park could be turned into a cafe.

The old formal gardens and pathways would be restored, new toilets built and demolished conservatories recreated.

Angela Elphick, acting chair of the Friends of Longford Park, said she thought it would be an “excellent added amenity” for Stretford.

Ms Elphick, a resident of nearby Alder Grove, added: “It is in a part of Trafford that we sometimes feel gets a bit neglected in favour of the other areas to the south, like Hale and Bowdon.”

The park and the imposing Longford Hall were built in 1857 by Manchester cotton magnate John Rylands, who lived there until his death in 1888.

The site became a public park after it was bought by Stretford Urban District Council in 1911. Longford Hall was knocked down in 1995, but its facade still stands in the park.

The funding bid was submitted last October and a decision on the park’s next stage is due over the next few days.

Angela said: “I feel optimistic, because as well as being such an attractive park, I think it is quite important because of the John Rylands connection.”

She added that outdoor events have recently had to be cancelled because of a lack of volunteers – and put out a call for new members. For details visit www.friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk.

Posted by rylands on April 13th, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

Map demonstrating the enhancements that could be made to Longford Park:-

1. Pets Corner Improvements
2. Performance Area & Lawn Auditorium
3. Park HQ & Refreshments
4. Outdoor Picnic  Area
5. Redeveloped Car Park
6. Senior Play Area
7. Creative Arts Centre
8. Restore Rose Graden
9. Reconstruction of Art Deco Shelters
10. Proposed Bandstand
11. Small Performance Area
12. Pedestrianised Area
13. Improve Wild Life Value
14. Restore Avenue Planting
15. Proposed Tennis Courts
16. 9 Hole Pitch & Put
17. Street Sports Facility
18. Vehicular control point
19. Sports kiosk
20. Community Centre and & Park Shared Parking
21. Redesign Under 5 Play Area
22. Restore Entrance Pillars and Railings
23. Reinstate railing along edge lane
24. Glass Shelters
25. Longford Park School and Playing fields
26. Leap Play Area
27. Retain and repair HaHa
28. Restore Ornamental & Wildlife Gardens
29. Restore Water Feature and Rockery Planting

Posted by rylands on March 21st, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

Article in Trafford Partnership November 2007:-

Longford Park, in Stretford, will benefit from a £2million investment if a bid put forward by Trafford Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund is successful.

The funding would mean new facilities including a café and visitor centre, much-needed improvements for disabled people and renovations to the gardens to make them more attractive and safe. The existing play area makeover would be accompanied by a new vital youth facility - a state-of the- art skateboard park.

Consultation revealed that people also want to see the pitch and put improved and the addition of a crazy golf course and increased public access to the bowling greens. People also requested better signage, improved lighting and more seating and better toilet facilities.

Source: http://www.traffordpartnership.org.uk/pdf/PartnershipNewsletterNov07.pdf

Posted by rylands on March 21st, 2008 in The 2006/2007 Lottery Bid

Watch the video about the consultation process for the Longford Park bid.

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