Comments on: Jesus Green Lottery Bid Document

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:30:53 +0000

At Cambridge City Council’s Community Services committee on the 25th of June 2009 it was revealed that the City Council no longer intends to moor its “Playboat” on Jesus Green.

They are going to moor it near the Penny Ferry pub in Chesterton. They are considering if the proposed mooring will still be safe in light of potential future uses for the currently closed Pub buildings.

Councillors were told that there was some urgency in ordering the boat, as there was a twelve week lead time following the order, and the money had to be spent “this year”.

The boat is to cost £84,000 and is being bought by the Council’s Childrens and Young People Service. An article on the City Council website which was updated on the 23rd of June 2009 states:

The Chypps play boat is the first of its kind in the country and offers a unique experience for children and young people, schools, community groups and families to play.

Sessions running from the boat will include open access drop in sessions, closed group work and overnight trips. Activities that can be done from the boat include environmental projects, river dipping and arts and crafts, as well as learning how to work the locks and steer the boat.

Children and young people across Cambridge will be involved in the design of the boat

By: Cinnamon

Cinnamon — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:26:21 +0000

I think this is a stupid idea. they are going to ruin jesus green! the only major thing they need to sort out apart from the pathways which need to be redone as they are all lumpy and uneven, is the skate ramp! it needs to have the anti-graffiti paint removed as it makes it too slippy, i slipped when skating and broke my wrist because it was too slippy. it needs making bigger also because there are so many skaters and its just too small. thats how i feel anyway!

By: Azar Semmence

Azar Semmence — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:52:22 +0000

Cambridge
I am sorry couldn’t make it to the meeting due to a bad cold.
So happy that there is a huge support against the work.
There is complacency and incompetence within the council.
I live in Richmond Terrace and take my dog to the green two/three times a day. There is a room for basic improvements ie damage done by vehicles to the ground, drainage for the grass area, proper large rustic designed
bins particularly in front of the moored boats etc.
The green is a regular venue for late night week-ends drinking parties. To make it into a Disney Land will add to the problem. What about floods if more grass
area is covered by concrete. Last summer La Mimosa erected a wooden shed by the river to sell drinks and sandwiches. Most visitors bring their own food to have a picnic.
It is a total madness when money is needed for many other vital services to be as senseless as proposing an unnecessary cosmetic job.
My new year resolution is “No lottery Fund to be given for this preposterous development”
I agree with Mrs Garvey’s comments totally.
Mrs Azar Semmence

By: Paul Brazier

Paul Brazier — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:20:08 +0000

Incredible. That anyone could propose this kind of expenditure without adequate public consultation beggars belief. I hope that common sense will prevail and that the ‘Green’ remains exactly that and not some playground for misguided planners.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:21:13 +0000

This article has resulted in me being described as a “Jesus Green Activist” in the Cambridge Evening News this morning.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:33:51 +0000

Sophie,

In response to your comments on the classic English experience you might be interested, and possibly riled, to learn that according to the lottery bid document the new lights, bins, seats etc. are all to be ultra-modern stainless steel.

I am in favour of modernism where it is appropriate, for example downstream at the new Riverside bridge and proposed promenade, and am lobbying for that design to be continued at Penny Ferry. At Jesus Green though I would like to see the existing, traditional, classic designs for street furniture remain.

I think using robust removable tables and chairs with the Cafe/Kiosk which could be put out on the grass days when they would be likely to be used would be better than any large permanent stone area with fixed tables.

At Thursday’s Community Services Scrutiny Committee, Executive Councillor Julie Smith stated that nothing was set in stone and everything was still up for change. I expect the Heritage Lottery Fund would be interested to learn of Cllr Smith’s comment which implies the council has no plans to deliver what is proposed in the bid, they just want the money and will decide the details of how to spend it later. On the other hand this is an opportunity to ensure the however much money is made available for work on the Green (and I can see no reason the council’s own £1.1M contribution should disappear if the lottery bid is unsuccessful) there ought be a chance to influence what is done.

As to if Jesus Green is a park, many in Cambridge will argue and point to the Green’s origins as a common, some still want it to remain as wild and open as possible. I think we currently have a reasonable balance and the area transitions smoothly from the more formal park by the tennis courts though to the large open area towards Midsummer Common.

By: Sophie Grove

Sophie Grove — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:54:39 +0000

Tourists come to Cambridge for classic, English experience and the green is part of that. It’s common land, crucial to our nation’s identity, not a theme park to build on. People want restoration not development. There is already enough concrete on that green. Why not just have deck chairs like they do in London and regard it as a historic park? England is unique in its use of green space (I’ve studied it.)
Regent’s park for instance was opened to the public in 1845 – amazingly early when you consider France had nothing like this then, or now. They just have very formal gardens. But London has it covered. All those parks are owned by the crown and governed by something called the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations act 1997.

By: Anne Garvey

Anne Garvey — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:00:54 +0000

An amazing feat in presenting all this vital information - but a reproach to the Council. Their idea of consultation is a tent on Jesus Green open on the wettest day of August when many people are on holiday. To withold it from the web shows they are already nervous about this Vandals Charter. The entire process has been devious and unpredictable. New items have sprung up at the last moment.
To treat an ancient space of beauty, as Jim so rightly says, as if it’s a brown field site looking for whacky play ideas is in Shakespeare’s words ‘ridiculous and extravagant excess’.
Cynically they have let Jesus Green run down and now solicit support for this wreckers bonanza cum gravy train for ‘professionals’ . Improve it YES
This savage insensitive bureaucrats blueplan to paint the lily, NO.

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:49:35 +0000

The details of this scheme are quite terrifying.
It is all far too costly, misguided and threatens to turn Jesus Green into some ghastly consumer-led collection of attractions - it is an escape, a haven, from the city from all the pressures of the 21st century.
Full consultation is needed on these plans which could drastically change the nature of this green