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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 11/01/2008(UTC)
Posts: 41
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As many of you may know, the works on Valentines Mansion and the surrounding grounds, which have been going on for nearly two years now, will shortly be completed in February 2009.
As a local resident in the Valentines Ward and as someone who uses the park on a regular basis, this is very exciting. I have already had a sneak preview of the new walled gardens, and they are absolutely stunning. The area on the other side of the canal, which re-opened earlier this year is also a huge improvement, if not already being abused by vandals and ignorant people who don't appear to know what a dustbin is for.
What concerns me however, is the fact that Valentines Mansion will now be for hire for all in sundry - including for "meetings, training sessions, weddings, parties and events". It would be nice if the mansion itself could occasionally be available for local residents at various times in the year. Also, what about the level of noise and the volumes of people that parties and weddings will attract to the area? Do the council ever think to consider the local residents when conjouring up these money spinning ideas? Will the gardens around the Mansion also be included in the hire charge? I really do hope not, because this would be grossly unfair to local residents who will not be able to enjoy the gardens at weekends when many of these events, particularly weddings, are taking place.
Is there anyone who could shed some light on this?
Best wishes,
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 12/12/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,025
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Please see below a response from the Valentines Mansion Project Manager
"I'd like to respond to and reassure the resident concerned about local people's use of Valentines Mansion once it opens next February.
The Mansion will be open to the public for visits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year. Alongside this, the Mansion will also be used for school group visits and adult education classes. Rooms will be available for use by local community groups at a heavily subsidised rate.
The 300 year old Mansion has been restored with Heritage Lottery and Council funds to provide a wonderful place to visit and enjoy. Generating income through hire will support and subsidise its operation and activities for the whole community. Inevitably, there will be more people coming and going from the mansion once it opens, compared with previously (the site has been vacant for 15 years leading up to its restoration). However, we want to make this development something to celebrate, and will be working hard to avoid problems through careful and considerate management of the site. Incidentally, the restored historic gardens cannot be privately hired, and will be open for all to enjoy from February 14th 2009."
Regards
Redimanager
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 11/01/2008(UTC)
Posts: 41
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Thank you very much for this response.
I am very pleased to hear that the gardens will not be for hire and that local people will also be able to benefit from the newly refurbished Mansion - this is excellent news. I, along with many other local residents and regular users of the park, am really looking forward to enjoying the new gardens when they have re-opened.
Thank you!
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Rank: Member
Joined: 17/02/2009(UTC)
Posts: 10
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Over the past weekend I was able to get to the formerly closed section of the park, but the queue for the Mansion was so long that I did not visit it.
Nevermind however; I was able to visit the walled garden - which in any case is what I really wanted to do. I noted with regret the loss of the palm trees and the new wall which was not there before.
When looking at the overall works in the park my views are soured by the delays and long term closure of both Emerson Road and Gants Hill gates, which effectively meant that for a whole year my journey from near the car park in Perth Road to Clarence Avenue had to be made via Bramley Crescent - ie: not using the park at all! Then there was the closure of various other gates around the park, which was supposed to have been for a few weeks at a time - but lasted far longer.
All in all, it seems that minimising inconvenience to the people of Redbridge was not on the agenda.
Today (Tuesday 17th February) at about 5.15pm I walked through the park again and to my dismay I was denied access tothe walled garden, as the doors were locked closed.
I am now contemplating writing to the lottery commision, asking why they funded something which resulted in the public being denied access to park of a public place where for many decades previously they had unrestricted access (during the park's opening hours). My mother grew up in Ilford, often visiting this area as a child (in the 1940's and 1950's) and she does not ever remember there being any restriction on entering this area. This makes me wonder (because of the very long time of open access) if the enclosure and then closure of the walled garden could be breaching laws regarding the right of access. Not being a lawyer I am not 100% sure on this, but what I am certain about is that whilst there is no question that some works were necessary (for instance: part of the wall as in danger of falling down) the works which have been done represent a 'worst case scenario' with respect to my enjoyment of the walled garden.
One (I suspect of many) very unhappy person.
Simon
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 06/08/2007(UTC)
Posts: 32
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I am a relatively new resident to Ilford - 24 years only! - and although I occasionally bring my children to Valentines Park to use the play area, we never quite got to this end until we heard about the Mansion. We visited the 'closing' event and again the 'opening' and were very impressed both times.
I do not have previous knowledge of the gardens as simplesimon has so cannot comment on past access. However, it was noticeable that despite there being many pedestrians strolling through and a path around the outside of it, one ignorant adult cyclist insisted on going through us all through the walled garden, with us having to get out of his way. Perhaps it is to stop the unsociables such as this damaging it, that sometimes it is closed, especially in times of short staffing to supervise. Maybe it has been decided that it should only be open when the Mansion is open in which case there should be signs announcing it.
So please, don't just moan, ask why and lets see if we can come up with a constructive approach.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 11/01/2008(UTC)
Posts: 41
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Since the renovation of the Mansion and gardens, the park is starting to attract large volumes of people where previously there were very few. One of the more negative aspects of this has been cyclists. I am a local resident who uses the park regularly with my young child, my dog and sometimes, we too like to go for a leisurely cycle. However, some people are abusing this - there is one chap in particular who for the past few weekends has been whizzing round the entire park like it's a racecourse. He has been spotted by many people, a number of whom have mentioned that he is a potential danger. He does not slow down, he cycles through the gardens at top speed and yesterday nearly hit a small dog. It's only a matter of time before he either hits a dog or a child or indeed an adult. Going at the speeds he is doing, he could potentially kill someone. If anyone else spots him, please report him to the parks police
It's selfish inconsiderate people like him who make using this lovely park a nightmare.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 04/07/2007(UTC)
Posts: 564
Location: Redbridge Eye
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..... and gives considerate and responsible cyclists a bad image.
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