Staff and customer concern over vandalism at East Park pavilion
VISITORS and staff in East Park have reached the end of their tether as youths continue to throw dirt at the café windows.
Youngsters have been sneaking into the park at night and pushing over temporary barriers surrounding six empty water features.
-
Regular vandalism: The pavilion in East Park, Hull.
Staff found they have climbed into the ponds and thrown mud at the pavilion.
The attractions have not been working for years, despite being paid for by Lottery funding, and customers say the barriers are unsightly and ruin the beauty of the east Hull park.
Do you have a property that is currently vacant?? Don't waste any...
View detailsLime Property are the regions fastest growing letting agent. If you have a property that you require a tenant for look no further Lime Property are here to help. Call us today on 01482 216060.
Contact: 01482 216060
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Margo Robertson, who volunteers in the park café, said: "Kids have pushed over the barriers a few times now and we've had negative comments from customers.
"The park staff are fantastic and always clean the windows, but it's been going on all summer.
"People ask what is going to be done about the barriers.
"They are there to stop children falling in but they're quite wobbly and end up being thrown in and then kids throw things at the windows."
Margo, who works at the café with her husband Alan, said the pond area has a lot of potential and could be turned into an outdoor seating area.
She said: "We also need a bigger play area. It would be nice if they could be used for mums to sit and chat while their babies play.
"I would also like a healthy eating area to sell jacket potatoes and smoothies outside.
"There's so much which could be done with the café but the water features are being redesigned and they have to be kept. It's been like this for about five years, so we have no idea when anything is going to be done.
"Everyone works extremely hard to keep it clean but it seems barmy to have water features because the water stagnates when there isn't a filter and we have to keep emptying them out.
"They only worked for a few months and there hasn't been water in them since."
Claire Perrin, 40, and Martin Dalby, 44, meet in the park with their dogs most days and say they feel sorry for the staff. Claire said: "We see them cleaning the windows all the time after they've been covered in dirt and it's a real shame.
"The barriers still look quite dangerous and somebody needs to do something about the water features.
"It's such a beautiful park and a lovely café but they spoil it.
"In the summer, it's absolutely packed outside and people struggle to find seating, so it would be fantastic to have outdoor benches and maybe even umbrellas."
Martin said he thought it was "awful" that youngsters felt the need to throw the barriers and vandalise the area at night.
He said: "We've been using the park for a long time and for visitors it would be a nicer place to be if people had more respect for it and it was used to its full potential."
A spokeswoman for Hull City Council confirmed work will start in the new year to improve the area.
She said: "There's going to be some development outside, with granite laid around the ponds and outdoor seating put in.
"We understand the concerns of the visitors and staff and we're doing all we can to make sure the work goes ahead.
"There will also be vegetation and a filtration system installed."
Comments
by LSACHILDMINDING - ACCREDITED EARLY EDUCATION PROVIDER AND OVERNIGHT AND WEEKEND CARE
Sunday, December 02 2012, 7:36PM
“Margo and Alan and all of the staff in the Pavillion cafe are fantastic. They all work so hard to keep it clean and welcoming, even with dogs been allowed in, We are not dog lovers however appreciate they are a big part of parks and should be encouraged not discouraged, they sit with their owners and only drink from the pet dishes available outside and ive never seen a cafe clean and mop floors so much, I have no hygiene concerns whatsoever, they cater for all people and children regardless of age or ability with lots of extra organised meals and activitys, how many places do that, not many, we childmind and often take the children in for a drink and its lovely to see the different groups of people they welcome including meals for older people and sing alongs on the piano, its nice that they also have an area for children with toys but we definitely agree with Margo that the outside area could be put to better use, more outside seating, part of it been converted into a soft play area with seating, be lovely to have a dedicated area for babies and children under the age of five years, and this would be must better than a water area, this isnt needed with such a fantastic water area already in the park but this cafe definitely needs more seating and a bigger area for under fives and you could even have one side dedicated to dog walkers to please all, be great to also go with Margos comments about healthy eating also especially as this is suppose to be a big incentive for all children now, what a shame we have a wonderful cafe and team wanting to help promote this for our children and Hull City Council are not wanting to help and encourage this, it would be great to have this alternative available, also why does the park have to close at 4pm on a sunday, its crazy it means the cafe closes at 3pm to get cleaned etc with the gates closing, some families would love to go to park after a late lunch, visiting relatives etc or even to have their lunch in the cafe, all this money spent on a wonderful park and it closes just when families want to use it, crazy, it would be great if the people at the forefront of this wonderful cafe could be listened to by Hull City Council as they are the ones who really know what the customers want and need, Lynsey & Steve”
by Ant_Hull
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 9:31PM
“On any walk around East Park there are a tonne of CCTV cameras.............
I think you can see where I am going with this comment.”
by Posativus
Monday, October 22 2012, 2:31PM
“I have used the cafe a few times recently on sundays during my dog walk and the staff are fantastic and there is a lovely feeling in or sitting outside. However I agree the empty water area would be put to much better use as a seating area as there never seems enough even now when the weather is autumnal. Why waste more money on water features or ponds when people just want a nice place to sit with the families or dogs! No doubt the water will get full of rubbish and leaves and will require expensive maintenance as well or it will look like the far end of the lake full of plastic and weed. sometimes less is more - come on HCC think a bit more”
by Mildred
Saturday, October 20 2012, 9:20PM
“Carmella and David.... Hear hear!!!!
Seriously though... If they have concerns about safety they make interlocking grids that can be fitted over ponds to prevent kiddies falling in and drowning. Of course keeping the water clean also helps.
As for prevention of crime... some stocks and a flogging platform???”
by CarmellaBrown
Saturday, October 20 2012, 2:49PM
“contraception is the way forwards, and a good dentists”
by pedelrebel
Saturday, October 20 2012, 1:30PM
“"I would also like a healthy eating area to sell jacket potatoes and smoothies outside.
Pity they cant have a healthy eating area inside. Dont know about calling it the Pavilion Cafe, should rename it Crufts with the amount of dogs whats allowed inside. Disgusting Hypocrites”
by David_Nivea
Saturday, October 20 2012, 11:37AM
“"A spokeswoman for Hull City Council confirmed work will start in the new year to improve the area."
Preventing morons from breeding would be a reasonable start.”