Tuesday, June 27, 2006
South Marine Park restoration
South Marine Park restoration
The Council's Cabinet meets tomorrow to consider a progress report into the restoration of the South Marine Park and the associated funding. A stage two application for Heritage Lottery Grant Funding is in place for the 5.4 million pound project and a steering committee under the chairmanship of Cllr. Jim Foreman has been set up to report to the Foreshore Working Group.
I cannot help but think that a golden opportunity is about to be missed here. Whilst I appreciate that the aims of the project are to try and recreate the park's Victorian grandeur, as part of our vision for the future of the foreshore it is imperative to try and create additional visitor amenities that can be utilised in wet weather. When this project was first unveiled I made the suggestion, via the Council's website, that a small scale development of the Lakeshore Railroad Station would be appropriate and ought to include room for an office for the Park Rangers and the Tourist Information Office. I had suggested that a glass sided building of the same height as the present station would be visually appealing and could also house sheltered seating and a display area which would be ideal to show the history of the park, and indeed the diary of the park's first keeper (rather than displaying it in the museum). The building could be designed to replicate a small rail station and would be in keeping with the current layout, not necessarily in the position of the station shown in this picture, it could also be positioned closer to the boathouse, or added to the refreshment area used by Minchellas. A large number of participatory events are already in the planning stage, and a building such as the one proposed could make an attractive meeting point and provide good warm dry accomodation for these events if the weather was not too kind.
This, of course would add to the costs and require the Council to seek additional funding above the 1.7 million pounds that it is currently committed to. I wonder if it is too late for Cllr. Foreman's committee to consider enlarging the project and it's funding?
I had also suggested a glass atrium for the terrace, but this would not now be appropriate in the circumstances.
Link
Cabinet Committee papers.
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