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Plymouth Music Zone is a dynamic community music organisation, providing high quality opportunities for young people and training for adults.  They passionately believe in the power of music to make a positive difference to people's lives.  They achieve this by working with highle skilled music leaders who can respond to the diverse needs of young people and deliver practical music workshops that are vibrant, engaging, inspiring and fun.      

Click on the link below to visit the Music Zone website

Discovery of an Air Raid Shelter

As you may have heard or read in the paper, a WWII air raid shelter was recently discovered under the area where the new play area is being constructed. These air raid shelters were previously thought to have been infilled however upon investigation this particular one has been discovered to be virtually intact, with only the original entrances having been infilled. Unfortunately, this air raid shelter is located directly underneath where the foundations for the new zip wire and climbing frame need to go and PCC (Plymouth City Council) is currently considering the available options, of which there are two:

Option 1: to fill in one half of the shelter with concrete, to form part of the play equipment foundations and leave the remaining half of the shelter intact for possible future viewing. This will be the least expensive solution.

Option 2: To leave the shelter as it is for possible future viewing. This would require relocating some of the new play equipment, their fundations and other alterations enabling this, which would include the removal of 3 mature trees. This would be the most expensive and time consuming solution.

The shelter cannot be opened to the general public as it stands, however a comprehensive survey of the shelter has been performed by the suitable personnel and certain other individuals. Lucky members of the FDP committee have been permitted to explore the shelter, accompanied by a confined spaces qualified individual and their photos and a video of the shelter taken by the City Archeologist is available for yur viewing below. This video and accompanying photos will also be available for viewing at our  next Members Meeting  (see Newsletters / Meetings page).

PCC will come to a decision regarding the future of the shelter early next week, however the majority consensus of the FDP committee is to go with the first option, There are other shelters known to be located within the park, one of which is located adjacent this one. When constructiopn work moves into that area, an attempt will be made to gain entry into this other shelter in the hope that it too is intact. We will of course update you of any news and progress on this matter.           

14/04/09

Air Raid Shelter Video, Photos & Plan

Click the video link (below right) to view a video of one of the first explorations of the WWII Air Raid Shelter. Below are photos of the grafiti in the shelter. Photos 18 - 22 show that which will be lost due to the infilling (each photo's number is displayed on the tool bar above the photo).  The last photo is of the plan of the shelter, the location of features and the area to be infilled.

The Hedge Situation...

This note is being placed on here in response to some questions asked at our latest members meeting. The hedge around the memorial garden is, we know, looking a little sorry for itself since it's been severely pruned. However, there is a very good reason for this. This hedge is in fact going to be removed completely as part of the new landscaping and will be replaced with a healthier, shorter hedge-row, allowing full view of the garden and it's flower beds similar to the view capable at the moment. The reason it has not yet been removed is primarily due to logistical concerns regarding the hiring  of the necessary equipment and also to prevent too heavy thoroughfare at this delicate planting time. We hope that this satisfactorily explains this issue and please, if you have any more questions like these to be answered, you do not have to be a member to ask them. Just go to our Committee page where there are the email addresses of several committee members who will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.

Park Avenue Crossing.

No doubt you will have read in the press about the decision by Plymouth City Council, not to proceed with the planned pedestrian crossing on Park Avenue. This is particularly concerning as this crossing was intended to be an integral part of the restoration & development of Devonport Park, lThe whole point was that it would be a tangible, visible link between the two sections of the park which has been divided for so long. The reason given – effectively that it would cause unacceptable delays to buses – simply is not acceptable. There are much busier bus routes in Plymouth where the council have been more than happy to put in crossings, Royal Parade is a prime example! Your views would be welcome. Please, either write to us, or, better still to, Chris Sane. Asst Dir. Development (Transport & Highways) PCC. Civic Centre, Armada Way. PL1 2AA or to your local councillor

Lottery Latest

As most of you will by now be aware, on 15th October it was announced that the stage II of the bid to the Heritage Lottery / Big Lottery Fund

had be successful and Plymouth City Council had been awarded £3.294 million towards the planned restoration of Devonport Park. Officers from the City Council have been working closely with the "Friends" to help galvanise support for this project and this

is the culmination of 3 years of planning, discussion, consultation, debate and shear hard work by all concerned and the Friends of Devonport

Park are delighted to have been able to take a very active part in the process. Chair, Frank Wilson said "This is wonderful news. It is something we have all worked very hard to see happen. It has been a real team effort and we are delighted that it has paid off".

By working closely with Plymouth City Council, The Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership and many other local community groups, we have been able to ensure that the voice of the people that really matter - the local community, park users and perhaps, most importantly, our children - the future park users - are heard loud & clear. Everyone involved in this bid should give themselves a big pat on the back, it is really good news for The Peoples Park. Now the detailed planning is underway and we should soon see the beginning of work which it is estimated will take around he two years to complete. The work to be done includes:

A new park pavilion with cafe, toilets, changing rooms and a community/ bowls room. The pavilion will have an eco friendly roof. There will be a

New adventure play area. The restoration of the lower lodge. The restoration of both the Napier & Sicilian fountains, the Galatea & Chatham memorials as well as the original railings and Fore Street gates. There will be new lighting, signs, seats, litter & dog bins as well as a specific events area. Extensive horticulture work will be undertaken with the renovation of shrubberies & flower beds and work to lift the tree crowns which will improve visibility and safety. Drainage will be improved and the football pitches will also be upgraded.

Work has already been done to restore both the Doris Gun and the World War I memorial and the tennis courts have also been improved.

The full cost of the scheme is expected to run to £5.3 million. The DRCP have contributed around £750,000 and there has also been funds from section 106 as well as contribution from Barclays Spaces for Sports.

Cllr Michael Leaves, Cabinet Member for Street Scene & Environmental Regulation said "This is great. A lot of hard work has gone into making sure this project has all the right ingredients to become, not just a great place once more, but to keep the people who live nearby involved & excited about all the ideas that will now become a reality."

WWII Air Raid Shelter - PCC's Decision   

 PCC, after consultations with the FDP, the Lottery,PCC's archaeologist and DRCP, have made their decision regarding the Air Raid Shelter in the park. In summary, they have decided to go with Opton 1, preserving

half of the shelter for possible future use and allowing work to

continue on with the existing plans for the playpark. Clink the button to the right to read PCC's press statement explaining their decision on this matter.

Exploring the WWII Air Raid Shelter

Read about the experience of one lucky FDP committee member exploring the shelter... Click the button on the right to view

Bandstand DRCP bid Vote

The FDP have put in a bid for funds from the DRCP (Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership) to create the base of the new bandstand in the park. This will ensure that the park has a permanent, raised structure, with storage, for public use and entertainment. If successful, this bid will enable the FDP to apply to the HLF (Heritage Lottery Fund) for use of any contingency monies from the Lottery Bid to go towards the construction of the rest of the bandstand. If we are unsucessful in this DRCP bid, it is unlikely that the HLF will grant us permission to use the contingency funds to build the Bandstand, which will delay, if not prevent, any further progress on this project. The successful DRCP bids will be chosen by means of a public vote by local residents for each bid. This vote will be held at the Cowling Marquis at the Brickfields Centre, between 2pm & 4pm (bid presentations will be held between 1pm & 2pm), on Saturday 14th November 2009. We, the FDP committee, request that as many of our members and local residents as possible take the time to attend the voting session to place their vote in support of our Bandstand bid.

New Pavilion: Progress Report

Congratulations to J & E Regan (Builders & Contractors) Ltd whose bid for the construction of our new Pavilion was successfully granted by PCC this month. The building firm should begin construction work somewhere between the 9th - 16th November 2009 and if all goes well, work should be completed by the end of May 2010.

Park Restoration: Progress of Works

Lighting: the improved and additional lighting will be commissioned soon - watch this space!

Landscaping & fountains: advertisements for tender applications for these works will soon be published on the Devon Wildlife Website with a xmas deadline. Works should begin in January 2010.