Connaught park and its renaissance
- 28 October 2013 22:06250463we have all followed the achievements of the connaught park appreciation group through from the painting of the benches and shelters right up to the "pimms in the park" afternoon.
Now we have the jewel in the crown with the forlorn fountain being restored to its former glory.
at the official opening today with colette were town councillor pat sherratt,district councillor nigel collor and the harriet quimby centenary project mascot oceanne,
photos courtesy of karine.
- 28 October 2013 22:39250468even on a late october day with the wind blowing a gale connaught park is still a beautiful place.
many thanks to ddc for the renovation of the fountain and working closely with cpag, also to the councillors that helped with funding.
- 29 October 2013 06:30250481Well done to you all it looks great I will have to go up there and have a walk round myself,have not done that for many years.The pond looks the best it has done for many years,please tell me are there fish again in it?
. - 29 October 2013 07:47250489Gosh a lovely set of pictures there. Well done Karine.
Doesn't the park look great. A huge well done to all concerned.
email: dover7@msn.com - 29 October 2013 07:53250492Absolutely Paul - very well done Colette, Pat and your Volunteers and well done DDC too. Great photos - great park.
Roger - 29 October 2013 07:56250493Magnificent.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,798
29 October 2013 08:37250502I love that second from last picture.
A huge well done to all the volunteers who I am sure pushed DDC into action at long last.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 29 October 2013 22:20250578Well done everyone !---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 29 October 2013 22:36250579getting back to jan's post i would agree about the best photo but must point out that ddc have been involved from the beginning of the renovation work.
the problem seemed to be about person power in actually doing the jobs required and speaking from memory colette liaised with darren solly at the council and they had meetings where ddc supplied plants and some of the tools required to carry out the tasks.
without the teamwork the fountain would have been no more so it is a cause for celebration that we have this wonderful recreation area back looking it's best. - 29 October 2013 23:36250593I always loved Connaught Park when I lived in Dover, and now I will put it on my 'to do' list, along with a guitar duet with Vic, the next time I visit.
Its so nice to see one of Dover's loveliest spots being brought back to how it should be. - 30 October 2013 06:48250602Mr Nicoll, keep to just going around the park my guitar playing is not that good yet only been playing a few months and that has been off and on but I like it, but love the park enen more so the way it is looking now ,still think my plan about two or 3 houses costing about a 1million each build right at the very top of the park where the trees are would bring alot of funding into keeping the park even better and would be good for the park long term.
- 30 October 2013 07:10250605What about an outdoor gym, like they have at Capel le Ferne ? That would encourage people up there and because there'd be more people there, it wouldn't (hopefully) get vandalised.
Isn't there also a case for a car-park up on the left-hand side, I'm sure there's room for it.
Roger - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,798
30 October 2013 08:25250611howard mcsweeney1 wrote:getting back to jan's post i would agree about the best photo but must point out that ddc have been involved from the beginning of the renovation work.
the problem seemed to be about person power in actually doing the jobs required and speaking from memory colette liaised with darren solly at the council and they had meetings where ddc supplied plants and some of the tools required to carry out the tasks.
without the teamwork the fountain would have been no more so it is a cause for celebration that we have this wonderful recreation area back looking it's best.
Howard my point was that without the initial stirring by Colette's group I believe the fountain would still be on the DDC's to do list.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 30 October 2013 08:55250613I have been working on outside gyms now for over two years with parish councils and town council asking them to get them,and also the D.D.C. with the officer who helped get that that one in MISS lynn Brisleyshe has also asked DHB and also asked me to aske the DHB which I have not done yet,but we keep trying I have had companys down to talk and look around where I think they should go,but no luck up to now.
- 30 October 2013 14:37250659i thought work had finished for the year at connaught park but the volunteers have been out painting benches today.
- 30 October 2013 16:19250665Yes indeed Howard, we started painting benches again yesterday & today as well so it's full steam ahead yet again. We are hoping to plant some Spring flowers soon, will keep everyone posted
A Huge Well Done to DDC, the pond is looking splendid as we can see from Karine's lovely photos, thank you Karine
In case anyone missed the press release on the home page last Thursday I thought I would take the opportunity of posting it here as well.
CONNAUGHT PARK POND AND VICTORIAN SHELTER RENOVATIONS MAKE A SPLASH
Key renovation works have helped to make a splash at Connaught Park in Dover - with a range of improvements to the pond and fountain now complete.
Dover District Council has completed a range of works at the pond, including cleaning and repairing the base, trimming back overhanging trees, and refurbishing the historic Victorian fountain, which is now up and running again.
Work has also started to restore the Victorian Shelter, including repairs to the roof and timber posts. The timber shelter is the only surviving shelter of its type left in the park, and remains the only covered seating in the park.
These renovations are alongside excellent work by volunteers from the local community, the Connaught Park Appreciation Group, who have been actively involved with a range of other improvements in the park, working with Dover District Council.
Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Property said: "We are very pleased to be completing these key renovations to these historic assets at Connaught Park. We are also delighted to continue to work with excellent volunteers at the park, and we hope communities will continue to take pride in this beautiful park for the future."
Here is a pic that I took yesterday of the Victorian Shelter under renovation
Took this on my mobile today, the jewel in the crown does look lovely
Lots of ideas for Connaught Park being discussed at present, watch this space! - 30 October 2013 17:37250675thanks for keeping us updated colette, was chatting to someone the other day wasn't aware of the work going on in there and they were taken aback to say the least by the vast improvements since they last visited a while back.
- 1 November 2013 17:22250842I went to the park on Wednesday - the fountain looks lovely. Well done.
- 16 November 2013 14:53252723
Above is a close-up of the new roof on the Victorian shelter at Connaught Park, the amazing thing is that it is made of vandal-proof sections and not individual roof tiles, pretty good eh! Well Done DDC
Vic, just to let you know with regard to your #3 post the fish and water lilies are in Winter storage and will be returning in April next year.
We are currently in the process of giving three more benches a second coat then hopefully on to Spring planting - 16 November 2013 15:09252724Thank you for telling me that,I hope to get up there soon with my family.
