Friends of Longford Park (FOLP)

Posted by rylands on May 29th, 2009 in Recent Events, Social Nights/Meetings

Posted by rylands on May 28th, 2009 in Longford Park in the News

As reported in the Stretford and Urmston Messenger May 28th 2009 by Robert Downes

YOUNG offenders are to be drafted in to a Stretford park to complete work the council can’t afford to do itself.

After the town hall learned it had failed for a second time to access millions in Lottery funding to give Longford Park a major overhaul, park bosses contacted Trafford’s probation service requesting free labour from those sentenced for their crimes through community service schemes.

The service was only too happy to help, and in the next few weeks teams of young offenders will be working on restoring walls near the park’s rose garden.

Now, probation service bosses have contacted the Friends of Longford Park to offer more help if they want it.

The probation service’s Debbie Wilford said: “We do all sorts, cutting back, tidying up hedging, planting, and generally making sure the parks safe to use for the public.

“The people taking part have commited offences such as drunk driving or affray. None of them would be a danger to the public.”

“To me it sounds like a really good idea,” said the Friends’ John Fitzgerald.

“It’s clearly a positive step but the council will have to authorise it first,” he added.

Executive councillor Jonathan Coupe said: “We have been in discussions with the probation service about using the community payback scheme to help complete projects in a number of Trafford parks.

“The walls in the rose garden at Longford Park are on this list as they are in need of repair, however this work is not something that was part of the HLF bid. We are really keen to work in partnership with other organisations and local people to achieve our goal of making Trafford a greener borough.”

Posted by rylands on May 27th, 2009 in The Archives

The theme of this year’s photography competition is ‘Aspects of Longford Park Spring/Summer 2009′.

The subject matter can relate to the landscapes, the wildlife, the history and of course the people that use Longford Park.

2008 Longford Park Photography
Competition Winner Hannah Roberts

The winning entry will receive a cash price of £20. Closing Date is the 29th June. The winner will be announced at our AGM on the 30th June.

Please email your photographs to: photo@folp.org.uk

Good Luck!

The Rules:-
1. Name and contact details must be included with the submitted photograph.
2. Photographs must be received before the 29th June 2009. The winner will be notified before the 3rd July.
3. Agree that submitted photographs may be used by the Friends of Longford Park for promotional purposes.
4. If people are featured in the submitted photograph please ensure that they have given their consent for the picture to be displayed by the Friends of Longford Park.
5. The Winner will be decided by the Friends of Longford Park and their decision will be final.

Posted by rylands on May 22nd, 2009 in Longford Park in the News, The 2008/2009 Lottery Bid

As reported on May 22nd 2009 by Katherine Vine (View the Article)
A park friends group is putting pressure on the council to stump up the cash for vital repair work after a Lottery bid was turned down.

The Friends of Longford Park found out last month that its bid for cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund had been turned down for the second time – and say parts of the park are in vital need of work.

CALL FOR ACTION: Councillor Judith Lloyd and
Margaret Westbrook, a member of the Friends
of Longford Park, at the old Edwardian
bungalow in the middle of the beauty spot

Friends group member John Fitzgerald said: “No work has been carried out in the park for years because we were waiting for the Lottery money, and now it’s very dilapidated in places.”

The group’s members are particularly concerned about the Edwardian bungalow in the middle of the park, which they want to see turned into a community cafe.

John added: “It is quite an attractive building but it is in a very poor state of repair. There are serious problems with the roof – you can see the gaps in the tiles – and we are concerned it is becoming structurally unsound.

“It could have to be demolished if something isn’t done soon.

“We are just trying to get the council to do the initial repairs on it but we would really like to see it turned into something the whole community could enjoy.

There are so few amenities like cafes and restaurants in Stretford and it could be really nice.”

The group is being backed by Stretford’s Labour councillors, Judith Lloyd, Pauline Lane and David Jarman. Councillor Jarman said: “This building has been left to fall into disrepair by the council.

“However, there is an opportunity for the council to take the initiative and develop it into a functioning and exciting facility. The park is crying out for a cafe which would be used by the many people who enjoy Longford Park.

“Its location is at the heart of the park and I’m sure it would be welcomed by the local community and all the park users.”

Environment councillor Jonathan Coupe says a building condition survey on the bungalow has been carried out.

If this reveals any serious sturctural issues the necessary work will be undertaken.

He added: “The Edwardian bungalow is an important asset to Longford Park and we are looking at the feasibility of operating a cafe at this site in the future.

“This will depend on the level of investment required to meet the necessary standards for food preparation and on finding a suitable operator.

“We will continue to work closely with the friends group and the rest of the community to maintain and improve all aspects of Longford Park for local people.”

Posted by rylands on May 18th, 2009 in Longford Park

The event will explore African history,identity and culture through music and the arts.

Doors Open 7pm at the Gorse Hill Studos, Cavendish road, Stretford, M32 OPS (0161 912 5251)

Free entry, food £1.50. Traditional dance, drumming, songs, music and film!

Posted by rylands on May 14th, 2009 in Longford Park in the News, The 2008/2009 Lottery Bid

As reported in the Stretford and Urmston Messenger May 14th 2009 by Robert Downes

A STRETFORD park was neglected for six years in the false belief Lottery cash would pay for its restoration.

That’s the claim from the head of the Friends of Longford Park group, Jean Byrne, who also accused Trafford Council of lavishing cash on parks in the more affluent areas to the south of the borough at the expense of others in the north. “The Friends of Longford Park have been working hard for almost 10 years to persuade Trafford Council to prioritise a park it has called ‘the jewel in its crown’,” she said.

“For six years much essential maintenance work has been put on hold on the assumption that the park infrastructure would eventually get fixed with the Lottery money.This assumption has proved wrong and the gamble failed. We feel that the council has shown a degree of neglect of our park and indeed of the Stretford area in genera. We find beds full of flowers at the south end of the borough and yet the flower beds in our park lie derelict and basic lighting and repairs have been left for years.”

But executive member of parks, Cllr Jonathan Coupe, said: “Longford Park is a priority, flagship park in Trafford and significant resources are dedicated to its maintenance. “HLF funding focuses on improvement projects, not essential maintenance work, so maintainence work has not been put on hold at any time. Recent work carried out has included a newly-surfaced footpath from the Quadrant entrance to the rear of Longford Cottages and the improvement of the younger children’s play area. “The council does not spend more on parks in the south than the north of the borough” he added.
The council also confirmed around £400,000 of town hall cash earmarked for improvements at Longford Park had the bid been successful, may not now definitely be spent there. A spokesman said there were ‘no guarantees’ the cash was ring fenced for Longford Park projects only.