Tag: Cannon Hill Park

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Music Festival at Cannon Hill Park – but no local engagement

Update: 24th October

I’ve now been informed a U Turn decision has been made by the Head of Parks and this event will now go ahead on Sunday – but with reduced numbers, and moved to the redgra area.

Whilst I’m disappointed with the lack of engagement both by the council and the organisers I hope the event goes smoothly. I will go and check it out during the day and provide my feedback to the council SAG and Head of Parks.

Izzy

Subject: Update on Sunday’s Event

Dear Cllr Knowles,

Apologies for the delay in responding regarding this matter.

We’ve had several discussions with the event organisers this week and can now confirm that the revised event is approved to proceed on Sunday. This decision is based on the following key factors:

Reduced audience numbers, in line with the TENS licence conditions

Confirmed infrastructure, including toilets, stewarding, and first aid provision

Relocation of the event to the redgra area, due to waterlogged conditions on the original event field and further rain forecast

We appreciate that this has been a complex and challenging application. However, we are now confident that the event will run smoothly and without issue.

Following the event, we will review its delivery and consider how similar events can be managed more effectively in future.

Kind regards,

Eddie Curry

Head of Parks & Greenspaces

Update: 20th October

I’m pleased to hear today that following representations the Head of Parks has withdrawn approval for this event to go ahead this Sunday. The events organisers had tried to circumvent the licence conditions by obtaining a Temporary Event Notice (TENS) and they failed to engage with stakeholders, such as the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) would have been impacted by such a large event.

I’m not against events and festivals being held at Cannon Hill Park, far from it, but they need to be organised responsibly and with full engagement of other park users.

Original Post – 16th October

I have sent an email to the chair of Birmingham City Council Safety Advisory Group and the Head of Parks, raising concerns about an event that is being advertised to be held in Cannon Hill Park on Sunday 26th October.

I do not believe the organisers have complied with the conditions set by the police in an application they have made for an alcohol licence, which has not yet been approved.

There has been no attempt to correspond with other users of the park, such as the Midlands Arts Centre – MAC the Friends group or local residents.

I have not been given any evidence that a robust management plan of the event, including toilet facilities and parking management is in place.

Until I receive that assurance I cannot support such a large event in the park on a Sunday afternoon.

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Parks Gate Locking Service to be continued!

Last August I wrote about the trial by Birmingham City Council to end the city gate locking service for 34 city parks that have car parks attached to them. I sent a letter on behalf of Friends groups and residents expressing our concern that ending this contract would result in more issues of fly tipping, vehicle incursions and anti – social behaviour and compromise the security of buildings like the MAC. A short term saving would ultimately result in greater long term costs than renewing the current contract.

After our letter, at the end of the trial, the contract was renewed for six months with a further review to take place before March.

At the Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee this week I asked Cllr Majid Mahmood if that review had taken place. He confirmed the gate locking contract would be renewed in March and said the council “would no longer proceed with that saving”.

This is a very sensible decision welcomed by Park Friends groups and park users across the city.

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Protect our parks

On 2nd August some Councillors and Friends groups of our parks received an email to say that a trial was to take place in August involving the gate locking service. Currently thirty four parks in the city have their gates locked at night by a private contractor. The parks are those that have car parks within the park and it is the car park gates that are locked. The trial would entail the gates being left open overnight to the car parks in seven parks across the city.

Ending the gate locking contract will save the council money in the short term but has huge long term implications of the security of our parks after darkness. The gate locking crews have also previously assisted people in distress who may have intended to harm themselves in the parks after dark.
This is the letter received:

Following concerns raised by Friends groups and residents I wrote to the director of Street Scene and Cabinet member to ask how the impact of the trial would be measured.

20240815 Gate locking in parks – briefing note v0.1Download

I have received this reply with a briefing note listing all 34 parks where the locking service is used. These include Cannon Hill Park, Highbury Park, Kings Heath Park, Windermere Fields and Swanshurst Park.

I intend to ask for more details of the trial and the bench marking exercise referred to in the briefing note. In the meantime I have urged all friends groups and residents to report issues in the parks, especially at night, to both council and police.

Councillor Izzy Knowles