Jesus Green working party visit 15.6.09

Two JGA members attended the council's second Jesus Green working group on June 15.

This was a chance for those involved with the green to have their say on how the green can be improved. The JGA was the only key stakeholder present, although representatives from the rowing association, cam conservators, beer festival, councillors Tim Bick, Mike Dixon and Julie Smith and several council officers were there.

The JGA feels more encouraged by the approach being adopted by the council. Officers say this is now 'not HLF led' - this could mean the 'grandiose' schemes criticised by members in the past are no longer the priority of the council (as there is no money for them). 

However, it could mean the council are still keen to pursue the individual projects one-by-one, rather than hoping for a mega-transformation of the green.

After the hiatus of the HLF, we are now glad the emphasis can return to proper maintenance of the green and the improvement of existing facilities.

The meeting heard how there will be better cross departmental cooperation at the council to ensure better maintenance, while there will be four inspections a year, in which defects will be identified for fixing. Street Scene officers were also at the meeting and seem to keen to continue their excellent work caring for the green, with the JGA requesting extra bin collections in the summer

Jesus Green Association making a difference

JGA treasurer Richard Price spotted a hole in the swimming pool fence on July 6 in preparation for a meeting with council officials for the Jesus Green working party forum.

After reporting it to the council, the hole was repaired the following day. Although a small thing, it shows how reporting incidents (even to the JGA) can get them sorted. Stopping people breaking into the pool is important not just on safety grounds, but because they then get bored and tend to smash the place up.

The JGA would like to thank Ian Ross and his team at the council for acting so swiftly in this matter and would urged members to continue reporting problems.

£250 grant for JGA

After jumping through many bureaucratic hoops, the JGA has been offered a grant of £250 by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation. This is a body which adminsters community grants for the city council.

The money will be used to cover the general running costs of the JGA, including hiring rooms for meetings, publicity materials for said events, update of the website and various other running costs.

The grant pushes the JGA's meagre savings to a more acceptable level, although it's running total is, I believe, less than £400. This means the issue of subscription can be deferred for a while, although there is still much to recommend it. In short, the association would have more money to expand its activities, would be less dependent on outside bodies and it would also increase a sense of ownership among stakeholders.

On the downside, it would reduce membership and would be a hassle to collect given the city-wide nature of the group.

One of the requirements for accepting the money is that publicity materials must contain an agreed statement outlining the involvement of the CCF. A small price to pay for cash gratefully received from the JGA.

Hammerhead to stop impaction

Council officers are canvassing views on installing a tarmac turning area at the Victoria Avenue entrance to Jesus Green

While this could partially solve the problem of soil compaction which can damage trees, I'm sure most people would be reluctant to allow tarmacing of any part of Jesus Green.

Richard has made a constructive comment on the JGA website, which I think deserves further consideration

If you interested in this and a host of other issues from the skatepark, bins, tennis courts, the big skip behind the pool and state of footpaths, see the minutes of a meeting of the Jesus Green stakeholder meeting by clicking on the agenda item on the right

RICHARD TAYLOR'S COMMENT

In relation to the "'hammerhead' tarmac area".
If an area is required, I would suggest one of the various techniques for strengthening grass areas which both them to be driven on allow the grass to grow through.

Along the backs many colleges have grassed areas strengthened by concrete which cars and large trucks park on without doing damage to the appearance of the area.

The front of Marshall's car sales area on Newmarket road has a plastic mesh in the grass which also enables vehicles to be driven on the grass without damage.

For most of the year in these areas you cannot see there is anything underneath, the strengthening is entirely invisible.