AGM: FQP Votes To Skip Summer Events In 2017
The Friends of Queens Park have announced that there will be no major summer events held in the park in 2017, with the committee voting to take a year off from hosting its two annual gatherings Bark In The Park and Picnic In The Park.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting last night [Thurs 26 January], chair Johnny Webb explained that a decision had been made to concentrate the committee’s efforts on strategy and investment in the future of the park.
“Queens Park is one of six listed parks and gardens in Brighton and Hove. We are extremely worried about the future upkeep and design of the park and so, with a heavy heart, the Friends group has decided to take a sabbatical from the summer events.”
“We are one of three green spaces to be listed in the recently drafted Open Spaces consultation document to create a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) and that is our major goal in 2017.”
A new CMP document for Queens Park, outlining the area’s unique character and heritage, is considered a fundamental requirement of attracting investment from external bodies such as Heritage Lottery Funding.
With the promise of funds to pay for a CMP from the council, the Regency Society, and The Friends Of Queens Park itself, there is now a real expectation of a comprehensive and professional report being delivered in this year.
Johnny added: “We would like to thank all the sponsors, stall holders and members of public who have supported our events and we promise to be back bigger and better in 2018.”
Carols In The Park will continue as normal, alongside the committees continued volunteer activity programme.
There was a turnout of 30 committee members and local residents at the AGM, there to hear reports on budget, volunteer activities, event reports. The meeting was joined by Paul Campbell, Contract & Project Manager from the council’s Parks Department, who described FQP as among the ‘top five’ Friends groups in the city. Campbell spoke about the council’s new Open Spaces Strategy for the city, further details of which will be published here shortly.