Sarah Tovell at Cambridge City Council has informed us the decision on the HLF lottery bid has been delayed by the Parks for People department
Decision should now be announced on April 15
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Friday, 27 March 2009
Lottery bid decision
Keep an eye on the JGA website over the next few weeks as the Heritage Lottery Fund are due to announce their decision on the council's £4.4 million bid to revamp Jesus Green.
Decision is currently due on April 6 or 7.
Decision is currently due on April 6 or 7.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Strategic document for 2009
This strategic document was adopted by a unanimous vote at the JGA's EGM on March 17.
It lays out a clear statement of values for members and should be regarded as a 'mission statement' for the association in the coming year
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1. Jesus Green is a most beautiful area - well-used, but a peaceful open space. It is of world heritage calibre and ranks alongside such areas as Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London. Its relative size befits Cambridge and makes it jewel in the heart of Cambridge
2. JGA will oppose wholesale development of the green and, in particular, is opposed to any reduction in the grassed area, any reduction in the established tree population, large entrance areas, piazza areas, the widening of pathways to make expressways across the green, the building of space-age toilets and large two-storey cafes and segmentation of the green into themed play areas.
3. JGA will strongly support conservation, preservation and maintenance of the green. In particular, it wil support regular effective maintenance and drainage of the grassed areas, a comprehensive tree conservation and replacement strategy. It also supports maintenance, refurbishment of the tennis courts, the swimming pool, the children's play areas and the skateboard park. It also supports local events on the green, including the Cambridge Beer Festival, as part of an agreed and sensible schedule of events.
JGA will also strongly support the redevelopment of the Rouse pavilion to provide up-to-date cafe and toilet facilities and the maintenance of the riverside and brookside areas of the green.
4. JGA wish to avoid Jesus Green becoming a shopping experience or it becoming our own version of spaghettic junction, or even it being used to showcase the development aspirations of Cambridge City Council.
Jesus Green has served town, gown and visitors faithfully over many generations and the association believes the green must retain its essential character to serve future generations.
It lays out a clear statement of values for members and should be regarded as a 'mission statement' for the association in the coming year
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Jesus Green is a most beautiful area - well-used, but a peaceful open space. It is of world heritage calibre and ranks alongside such areas as Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London. Its relative size befits Cambridge and makes it jewel in the heart of Cambridge
2. JGA will oppose wholesale development of the green and, in particular, is opposed to any reduction in the grassed area, any reduction in the established tree population, large entrance areas, piazza areas, the widening of pathways to make expressways across the green, the building of space-age toilets and large two-storey cafes and segmentation of the green into themed play areas.
3. JGA will strongly support conservation, preservation and maintenance of the green. In particular, it wil support regular effective maintenance and drainage of the grassed areas, a comprehensive tree conservation and replacement strategy. It also supports maintenance, refurbishment of the tennis courts, the swimming pool, the children's play areas and the skateboard park. It also supports local events on the green, including the Cambridge Beer Festival, as part of an agreed and sensible schedule of events.
JGA will also strongly support the redevelopment of the Rouse pavilion to provide up-to-date cafe and toilet facilities and the maintenance of the riverside and brookside areas of the green.
4. JGA wish to avoid Jesus Green becoming a shopping experience or it becoming our own version of spaghettic junction, or even it being used to showcase the development aspirations of Cambridge City Council.
Jesus Green has served town, gown and visitors faithfully over many generations and the association believes the green must retain its essential character to serve future generations.
How to object to the proposed EDF depot
Dear JGA member,
Here is the draft letter of objection to the EDF bid that was promised at the EGM on 17.3.09 Feel free to print it up and mail it. Or you can use the following link and copy and paste it into the comments section of the council website on line.
For this, go to http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_comments_entryform.aspx?caseno=KEG01BDX05A00
Comments must be received by April 6. If you have time, please take a minute to tailor the letter and add a few personal touches. This will be more effective than a standard letter, but either way, it will help
Director of Environment & PlanningCambridge City CouncilThe GuildhallCambridge CB2 3QJ Dear Sir,
Planning application 09/0087/FUL: Temporary site compound on Jesus Green
I was disappointed to hear about the plans for this maintenance depot, which will occupy a prominent area of the green for at least 18 months. This compound will be a noisy, ugly and intrusive presence on one of the city's best-loved open spaces. It should be opposed for the following reasons.
-Its location is wholly inappropriate and unsuited to this area of Jesus Green. It is a very well-used space, favoured by many families in the summer, and the depot would be an unacceptable loss of green space
-It is also wrong to sandwich a depot used for the disposal of trade waste (which could be toxic or corrosive) between popular tennis courts and a major pedestrian route. Children from Park Street Primary School also use the nearby area for PE sessions and lunchtimes. The application should be opposed on health and safety grounds given the potential risk to the public’s health.
-The application contradicts the council’s stated aims in its Local Plan. Policy 4/2 says “development will not be permitted which would be harmful to the character of, or lead to the loss of, open space”, while para 4.6 adds "open space is an essential part of our natural resource base, making a significant contribution to the setting, character, amenity and biodiversity of the city.” This temporary depot does not accord with this planning policy and should be refused.
-The proposal does not accord with policy 4/11 considering conservation areas, within which this site lies. Any new structure must "respect the character and context of the site and the surrounding area". With two towering portakabins, halogen lighting, hoardings and ugly car parks, it is hard to imagine a more ugly and inappropriate development.
-Access to the depot from the substation in Thompson's Lane would be through narrow, quiet, residential streets, with sharp corners, which are unsuited to large lorries. The streets are also used by school children and I would urge councillors to reject the scheme on safety grounds.
-The depot will cause lasting damage to this area. Not just to the grass, which will struggle to recover given the previous record of EDF on the green. Four or five trees will also be felled from in the avenue running from the Jesus Green footbridge to Portugal Street to make space for the depot. The whole avenue will then be chopped down on completion of the project and replaced with 26 cherry trees…”. I believe the loss of these trees is wholly unwarranted and will have a negative impact on the green’s appearance for decades.
-Similar to the views expressed by Market ward councillors, I believe Jesus Green is a common and should be protected using laws to this effect. I do not believe the council has the power to sanction this bid as it is not the owners of the land – it is owned by the people of Cambridge.
This depot is totally contrary to the council’s aim of protecting the city’s green spaces and the features within them. I urge the councillors addressing this issue to reject this application and ask EDF to consider alternative ways to deliver these facilities. Perhaps parking in Park Street car park could be used to reduce the need for this depot.
Yours sincerely,
Here is the draft letter of objection to the EDF bid that was promised at the EGM on 17.3.09 Feel free to print it up and mail it. Or you can use the following link and copy and paste it into the comments section of the council website on line.
For this, go to http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_comments_entryform.aspx?caseno=KEG01BDX05A00
Comments must be received by April 6. If you have time, please take a minute to tailor the letter and add a few personal touches. This will be more effective than a standard letter, but either way, it will help
Director of Environment & PlanningCambridge City CouncilThe GuildhallCambridge CB2 3QJ Dear Sir,
Planning application 09/0087/FUL: Temporary site compound on Jesus Green
I was disappointed to hear about the plans for this maintenance depot, which will occupy a prominent area of the green for at least 18 months. This compound will be a noisy, ugly and intrusive presence on one of the city's best-loved open spaces. It should be opposed for the following reasons.
-Its location is wholly inappropriate and unsuited to this area of Jesus Green. It is a very well-used space, favoured by many families in the summer, and the depot would be an unacceptable loss of green space
-It is also wrong to sandwich a depot used for the disposal of trade waste (which could be toxic or corrosive) between popular tennis courts and a major pedestrian route. Children from Park Street Primary School also use the nearby area for PE sessions and lunchtimes. The application should be opposed on health and safety grounds given the potential risk to the public’s health.
-The application contradicts the council’s stated aims in its Local Plan. Policy 4/2 says “development will not be permitted which would be harmful to the character of, or lead to the loss of, open space”, while para 4.6 adds "open space is an essential part of our natural resource base, making a significant contribution to the setting, character, amenity and biodiversity of the city.” This temporary depot does not accord with this planning policy and should be refused.
-The proposal does not accord with policy 4/11 considering conservation areas, within which this site lies. Any new structure must "respect the character and context of the site and the surrounding area". With two towering portakabins, halogen lighting, hoardings and ugly car parks, it is hard to imagine a more ugly and inappropriate development.
-Access to the depot from the substation in Thompson's Lane would be through narrow, quiet, residential streets, with sharp corners, which are unsuited to large lorries. The streets are also used by school children and I would urge councillors to reject the scheme on safety grounds.
-The depot will cause lasting damage to this area. Not just to the grass, which will struggle to recover given the previous record of EDF on the green. Four or five trees will also be felled from in the avenue running from the Jesus Green footbridge to Portugal Street to make space for the depot. The whole avenue will then be chopped down on completion of the project and replaced with 26 cherry trees…”. I believe the loss of these trees is wholly unwarranted and will have a negative impact on the green’s appearance for decades.
-Similar to the views expressed by Market ward councillors, I believe Jesus Green is a common and should be protected using laws to this effect. I do not believe the council has the power to sanction this bid as it is not the owners of the land – it is owned by the people of Cambridge.
This depot is totally contrary to the council’s aim of protecting the city’s green spaces and the features within them. I urge the councillors addressing this issue to reject this application and ask EDF to consider alternative ways to deliver these facilities. Perhaps parking in Park Street car park could be used to reduce the need for this depot.
Yours sincerely,
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