Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Loughborough Friends of Queens Park Celebrate
Posted on 01/08/2008
P. Klein
THE Friends of Queen’s Park has congratulated Charnwood Borough Council for gaining Green Flag status for the ‘priceless’ open space in Loughborough town centre.
Queen’s Park, originally known as Queen’s Pleasure Grounds was formally opened to the public in 1899, 2 years after the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, by Mr. W. B. Paget. The opening drew crowds of 2,500 and after dusk the local firm Brush illuminated the Park with electric lights, then still unusual, free of charge. Some people at the time thought that the name was presumptuous for the four acre Park. One commentator said “When the sun shines and your eye doesn’t meet the dyeworks and its chimney the prospect is a pleasant one”. The Park was made possible by the purchase of Island House Park which was almost an island at the time due to branches of the Woodbrook. The house was where the library in Granby Street now stands and it’s garden extending across what is now Granby Street.
Julie Strong, the chairperson of the group, said it was the first step on the journey to restore the park to its former glory.
The Green Flag was officially raised at Queen’s Park on Tuesday (29 July 2008) in a special ceremony attended by the Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Stephen Campbell, Cllr Peter Lewis, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure, and representatives from the Friends of Queen’s Park.
Mrs Strong said: “The Friends of Queen’s Park are delighted that Queen’s Park has achieved Green Flag Status and congratulate the Council on taking this first step of the long journey ahead to restore this priceless green oasis in Loughboroughs busy Town centre to its former glory.
“The Friends commend the Council for recognising how attached and protective the people of Loughborough are to Queen’s Park and that the need to enhance and maintain this lovely example of our Victorian heritage to the highest standard is of the utmost importance.
“Queen’s Park is a lovely example of all that is good about public space, serving all generations in different ways, from the youngest to the oldest of its visitors. One cannot fail to feel better for just walking through the gates into such a beautiful park as ours.
“Long may it prosper not just for today, but for all our tomorrows!”
Charnwood Borough Council initially applied for a Green Flag in 2007-08 for Queen’s Park but failed to meet all the criteria.
However, the judges who inspected the park this year said: “The Council has made considerable progress in addressing many of the issues that were outstanding at the time of the assessment in 2007.
“Work was underway to complete the refurbishment of the toilets and the play facilities have been designed with considerable consultation and community involvement.
“In addition, the Park Wardens are in post and make a positive contribution to the visitor welcome and visitor safety.
“The Friends Group continues to be a valuable asset to the site. The site is being managed appropriately in line with the management plan and benefits from volunteers with strong local knowledge that are clearly committed to the park.”
Cllr Lewis (Conservative councillor for Loughborough Nanpantan) added: “In many ways this award recognises what can be achieved when everyone works together with a sense of common purpose.
“We all of us ‘own’ this park. We all can rightly share in today’s celebration, yet acknowledge we’ve a shared responsibility to keep up the good work.
“In my view, the team work with our community as shown here, and also in the Outwoods, is an excellent model of how best to maintain other open spaces and parklands in Loughborough and across Charnwood”