Anyone taking a wander around Queens Park will have seen plenty of action recently. The old depot, greenhouses and storage sheds have been cleared out and most will have been knocked down by the time you read this. Some will be retained to be used by contractors due on site in mid-July, but they 'll all be cleared and demolished around November this year. .There are some fantastic designs for a ne
Ok, there are plenty of people unhappy with the state of Queens Park so here's your chance to have a say and hear news about how the restoration work is progressing. Next Thursday, 19th June from 7pm, there is a public meeting being held at the cafe at the bottom of the main park drive. Everyone welcome, in fact the more the merrier. The restoration project officer and a couple of the architects w
Don't scoff, there's been buckets of progress. The bad press, moaning letters and political point-scoring haven't helped, but there is defo light at the end of the Queens Park tunnel. Honest. Since the last Stakeholders' Meeting at Legends back in March you could be forgiven for thinking that not much has happened onsite at the park. I know this is how many see it, as Mrs Crewe blog is a prime example of someone who enjoys a good moan based on what she sees. If it looks bad on the surface then it's sure to be bad beneath, or summat like that. Book by its cover. The thing is, people have a right to complain - especially when it concerns something so central to a town's cultural life. As a family we have walked through Queens Park on many occasions over the winter and it is a tad dishearteni
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As we have been on the subject of Queens Park of late, one of those photos you just have to take. Two lads taking advantage of the low water level of the lake. "Why," is the obvious question. Then again, didn't we all do things like this when we were kids?
Around 35 people turned out for last week's Queens Park stakeholder meeting staged at Bentley Motors' Legends facility on Sunnybank Road. The main concern from residents and admirers of the park was the lack of communication from the council and the project team involved. Crewe blog has tried to post a few items and photos over recent months, but we have also committed to helping out by providing regular updates (and non political updates) to the various local media organisations. So, here's what we have so far....The project is a little behind but only around two months. Everything should be completed during 2009 ahead of the original 2010 deadline. Contractors are about to be appointed to build new bridges around and across the lake area. Quotes for the work required came in much higher
On Wednesday lunchtime I took one of my regular lunchtime bike rides down to Queens Park. I looped around Queens Park Drive, headed round towards the golf club entrance and I saw some youths. It looks as though they were climbing over the fence to the park. As I rolled up it became apparent that they were students from South Cheshire College making a film. I had a natter, as you do, and it turns out that their film was called "Everybody Hurts." It looked a pretty bleak tale. World on your shoulders kinda thing. Whatever, great to see local students using the area to progress their studies. If any of them are reading then please post a comment and let us know if we can catch a clip of the film somewhere, be it on the South Cheshire College site or even You Tube! Good luck to them...
Only fair, I thought, that having shown the west lodge complete with its bell tower, the east lodge should get a look in. Both built around 1887-88 from red sandstone and timber they are grade II listed buildings. The sandstone comes, apparently, from stone cut to make the line that runs to Lime Street station in Liverpool.
The new cafe idea was launched several months back, with local people gaining valuable work experience there. The food and drinks are not expensive, and all of the money gets pumped back into the project. They're even doing Sunday lunch between 12 and 2pm. Go support them... .Elsewhere, the CNBC have announced that the lake dredging work has been completed on time and within budget. Although they've removed a lot of silt (more than anticipated, apparently) the lake still doesn't look that deep. I certainly wouldn't recommend any high-board diving... as they once did at Queens Park! With this stage of works complete it means that some structural stuff can commence, like replacing the bridges and improving the lakeside paths. It seems to be frustratingly slow progress but when tenders for work are involved that will always be the case. Although some of the new buildings and bridges will start to appear around spring 2008 it is unlikely to be completed before September of next year, m
Having one of those half-hour photo sorting sessions and found this snap of the Moreton Road gate at Queens Park. An early morning several months back, I recall cycling through the park before much of the current work started. Gorgeous sun starting to warm the day, shadows and all. Just like the light and the fuzzy view up towards the houses...
I know, it's all about developments recently. This time, as promised earlier this week, a bit of greenery (ok, so it's more browns, orange and yellows at this time of year). Queens Park, not looking its best, but even with a semi-drained lake and the leaves abandoning the trees you can still admire its beauty. The lake's islands break up the water superbly, and the way the banks lead you to the water's edge just can't be ignored. It will rise again, with new paths, bridges and buildings. There's a storm brewing about potential sponsorship of one the the planned schemes, but more of that later. Just enjoy the snap (click the photo to enlarge) taken from the boundary near to Queens Park Golf Club, off Queens Park Drive (the bit you can't drive around). If you have arrived here from a general Internet search then click home to see other articles and photos on Crewe blog...
I played nine holes at Queens Park Golf Club back in 1997, the year I moved back to Crewe from Leeds. My mate Alan was a keen golfer and suggested the town course as it was a) fairly cheap and b) not far to travel and c) a relatively easy course. It wasn't up to much back then; there was debris on various bits of the course, a couple of local scroats shouted abuse from the sidelines and a couple of the greens were carved up. But it was the local course. I popped along the other day to see what had changed. Not a lot, to be honest. Same old (small, perfectly formed) club house and shop, tatty road leading to the car park, loads of graffiti on the wall that borders the Queens Park perimeter. The really daft thing is the circular road (Queens Park Drive) that loops around the park. Basically, you can't drive all of the way round. Check out the Google map below to see how it narrows to a track. From Victoria Avenue you can drive round anti-clockwise to the golf club. Turning down Queens
Always one to be different, I thought we'd have a snap of the Queens Park bonfire before it goes up in smoke. Not sure about stewards looking after the pile of timber ahead of lighting, you wouldn't want to tackle these fellas, would you?As for this evening, yours truly is working nights - so no snapping for me. So if you take any good photos of bonfires, fireworks (other details on THIS post), fairground stuff or friends and family enjoying the entertainment around the borough then please email them to Crewe blog. Enjoy tonight and be safe...
The photos keep coming. Many thanks to Jamie Anderson for this superb image from Crewe's Queens Park. He's a local fella looking to follow a career in photography. Good luck to him. Take a look at his flickr site which includes a set devoted to the park...
I'll be honest, I don't like to see Queens Park out of the news for too long. It's a treasure, Crewe folk should be really proud of it and should frequent it every fortnight - ideally! Sometimes I step out of my idealistic world and accept that maybe not everyone from the town gives a damn about the chunk of land donated to the people of Crewe by the Grand Junction Railway. Inside its boundaries (by that I mean the park's boundaries) we have [had, until the much-trumpeted refurbishent] paths, the lake (pre-dredge), band stands, boating, fishing, play areas, open spaces, a cafe, crazy golf, bowls, birds and rabbits, memorials (various) and some stunning scenery and historic buildings welcoming you through the main gates. Ok, so that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I do wonder if those not fussed by the past have any appreciation of how they (or their familes) arrived and prospered in Crewe. The town of Crewe developed because of the railway, simple as that. Our history (if you ex
The current troubles in Burma reminded me of the WW2 memorial in Queens Park. Well, the one that you could see before the current park revamp started. As the bridge that spanned the lake and connected up with the island has been destroyed ahead of rebuild, I can only assume that the stone (transported from ICI Runcorn back in 1968 when the dedication was established) has been temporarily rehoused. If not, the contractors must have wondered about the tough boulder that didn't crumble as easily as the rest of the concrete! There are so many memorials, features and hidden treasures dotted around the park. Here's looking forward to the time when they can be explored once again...
On the back of the Diana memorial post (below) and Richard's comment, I thought I'd give you an idea of where the tribute is located. The Crewe blog family had an hour around the park this morning and, as ever, my trusty compact was in my pocket. As you can see from the main snap the Diana memorial is about one hundred yards to the left of the main entrance. The walkway takes you behind it and past the tumble-down greenhouses. You need to walk onto the grass to take a look. There's a boules (I think) area in front of it, plus a few crazy golf holes just about visible in the grass around it. The bowling green and pavilion (in need of extensive repairs) is just to the right. On that note, how many Crewe blog readers think that monies should be spent on the green and its facilities? I know it's been vandalised a few times and it must cost thousands to maintain a playable surface. How many people make use of it? Can anyone have a go, or is it the preserve of a club attached to the park
Funny how things jog your memory. I took a picture of the Diana memorial (just behind the bowling green area of the park) a few weeks back. Only this morning, while watching a chat show on the BBC, did I remember that I had meant to post it to coincide with the anniversary of her death. On the programme there was a quick blast of the beautiful music played at the close of her funeral, Song for Athene by Sir John Tavener. I thought that it was about time I added the snap to the ongoing story that is Crewe blog. The stone at Queens Park is simple but has been enhanced by Bill Oxley from the Crewe funeral company of the same surname. I'm not sure about the memorial's location, as this is one area of the park that many folk don't visit. In fact, I suspect that many didn't realise it was there at all. Take time to stroll past next time you're at the park...
Queens Park Rangers Football Club has announced that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have made an offer to buy the soccer team. The current chairman Gianni Paladini will remain as chairman while Briatore, Bruno Michel and Alejandro Agag will join the board. The deal is rumoured to be worth around $60m and will mean that QPR will not have to go into administration. The club has struggled since dropping out of the Premier League in 1996. Established in 1882 when two previous teams merged, more…
A few views of the ongoing works at Crewe's Queens Park. Local residents can be seen chatting about and debating the progress, the lake and bridge are unrecognizable, and the ducks are having to adapt...
It's easy to get dragged into the ongoing debate about work (or lack of) going on at Queens Park. Anyone who has made a visit over the last six months will have been shocked to see how tatty it looks. Still, there is promise of progress and local councillor Bill McGinnis was on hand to assure Crewe residents at the Access shop on Earle Street this morning. Moreover, the ambition is to put Crewe on the tourist map and get people into the borough to see what the town has to offer. When the revamp is complete families should want to spent a full day at the park. As you walk down the main drive and arrive at the signpost, it should cause arguments amongst the kids wanting to see certain attractions first. It would be nice to think that such choice will exist in a couple of years'time...
The slow nature of the works supposedly helping to revitalise Crewe's Queens Park have forced some local residents and councillors to form an action group. Save Our Parks includes Labour councillors Steve Roberts and Roy Cartlidge and they intend to put pressure on the local Conservative group to kick-start some action (see Crewe Guardian piece). Basically, they want the cash awarded in grants to be spent asap. The park looks a mess, the fencing surrounding the lake is, in places, dangerous and little progress seems to have been made on repairing paths and bridges. Also, a decision needs to be made about the pavilion - should a new facility be built, is it worth it, do the public want one? I'll post more on this subject over the weekend when I've had another wander around. Until then an old image of the park and the South African war memorial outside the cafe at the top of the main entrance road. Back then it was all fresh and lovely...
With the park in the news (for all the wrong reasons) it's perhaps appropriate that one Crewe blog reader can supply a stunning image of the once-beautiful park after a snow fall. The immaculate white carpet has this affect wherever it settles, but on open spaces and buildings of character it looks all the more dramatic. A big thank you to Sam for the photo...
What a state! Queens Park is [currently] no oil painting. After a quick ASDA shop the Crewe blog family went to the park this afternoon. The big fella is taking advantage of the old camera becoming redundant (yours truly bought a Canon 400D the other day) and is happily snapping anything that moves. Good lad. The youngest (pictured above) enjoys wandering off into the wooded bits of the park. At least these bits still look wonderful and allow you to lose yourself in greenery. Elsewhere it's not so good. I was interested in the progress being made on the lake, paths and other bits of the park. Well, you can see that work in ongoing, with piles of earth here there and everywhere. The lake, however, is a right old mess. The oil pollution from a few weeks back is still evident, and the snake-like barriers used to hold back the surface oil are still there for all to admire (see below). What a sight! So it's not the biggest tourist attraction that Crewe currently has to offer. Must do bett
Hooray! After disgruntled local residents and regular visitors to Queens Park raised concerns about the progress of the £3.7m revamp it appears that the dirty old lake will finally be dredged. The work will, apparently, take place towards the end of July so I suppose that there is a chance that the fencing could be removed by late August when this year's Crewe Carnival arrives at the park. Unlikely, but that would be great news. Still, the lake is under the spotlight for another reason this week. Ducks and swans have been rescued from a sudden oil slick that has affected the water since last weekend. An unknown source (possibly from old railway works) has polluted the environment and the RSPCA were on the scene taking the waterfowl over to the Stapeley Wildlife Hospital. Strange. I wonder if there's a saboteur involved?
Ok, so that's a bit of a fib. Family Crewe blog headed south over the weekend and enjoyed a few days in the capital. We even popped over to see Bill's elder (and bigger) brother, Ben. He's doing well as you can see from the photo. The park, of course, is St James', the one that runs alongside the Mall from Buckingham Palace to Admiralty Arch. Maybe I'll post a few snaps later...
It's never a tough decision putting off the DIY to take the kids down to Queens Park. Today we popped down just before lunch and decided to grab a sandwich, slice of cake and a couple of coffees from the revamped Community Cafe. Thankfully, the recent damage to windows has been repaired and all is well again. A couple of old fellas (lovely blokes) were serving and couldn't have been more helpful. The lads had a roam around the cafe garden that drops away from the terraced area towards one of the many walkways down to the lake. With bellies full we followed one of the paths and bumped into Paul, a local lad, who had snuck under the fencing to do a bit of carp fishing. As we arrived he was wrestling a 14lb Mirror Carp into his landing net. I fancied a snap for the blog anyway, but he was keen that I captured his moment on his camera too. No worries. And before you ask, the fish was returned back to the lake as you can see from the swirls, closely monitored by a pair of swans in the dis
Today I fancied half an hour away from the office. So, a 5-minute bike ride later, I was snapping away in our beautiful park. Plenty of blooms, trees back in place and the cafe open. Oh, and those crazy geese that chase you off the grass!
I grabbed this snap at the tail end of last summer as the first leaves had dropped and autumn proper started to kick in. As most will know there is extensive works ongoing at the beautiful Cheshire park, so it'll interesting to see how the same snap looks in a few months' time...
A fantastic news snippet today revealed that the cafe (pictured) at Queens Park is to play a significant part in helping local people gains skills and work experience. Rebranded the "Academy Cafe" a deal between several local organisations will offer training opportunities to people with disabilities, lone parents, over-14s looking for work experience and people who have been out of work for more than six months. Organisations involved include the Borough Council, Wulvern Housing, Pathways Community Interest Company and Marshfield Bank Community Centre. A statement issued has promised that all profits from the new-look cafe will be ploughed back into the community. Brilliant. The cafe was starting to look a tad rough around the edges and the interior hardly inspired. So hopefully this will be the beginning of a bright new future with additional benefits for local people. I'll certainly be grabbing a coffee there with Mrs Crewe blog and the kids this weekend...
It's easy to forget our beautiful park. Currently being revamped, there's plenty of fencing and bits of equipment scattered about the grounds. But it's still vast, gorgeous and FREE. There are miles of pathways and shortcuts to explore, a kids' play area, the lake, benches to let you take a breather and admire the scenery, the memorials, flowers and trees to allow you to forget about the daily grind. It's a peaceful place, even when hundreds of Crewe folk make the most of it (as they did yesterday in the sun). They had the kids' train running yesterday, and the ice cream van was there. So something for everyone...
Highlights can be downloaded here (Thanks igorman)Darren Moore scored a late equaliser to spare Derby's blushes and secure animportant point for the Rams, in an absorbing contest at Pride Park.Derby 1-1 QPRBy Jourdan RhuleIn an even first half, Derby began brightest yet were unable to break thedeadlock. Simon Royce showed great confidence to save David Jones' 2ndminute free kick and was equal to Steve Howard's fierce header minuteslater. But then the tide turned and QPR prospered on the counter attack.They forced successive corners, but were unable to manufacture a genuinechance until Marc Nygaard rose highest at the back post to meet Lee Cook'sleft wing cross that he glanced over the bar. Growing in confidence, QPRcreated a second opportunity in as many minutes. Paul Furlong found space ina crowded penalty area to prod the ball goalward, only to see his shotstrike the post. And as the Derby defence froze, Martin Rowlands crept in atthe back post to head home the rebound. Furlong
There's good and bad news from Queens Park. As you'll know if you have followed Crewe blog in recent weeks plenty of work has already started as part of a major refurbishment of the once-great park. Old, unsafe trees and unsightly over-planting have been removed. The lake has been partially drained ahead of a significant clean up. Plans and preparation for a new bridge across the lake are in place. However, it seems as though a lot of work is being carried out (with much more planned) and you have to wonder how this is likely to affect access to the park in spring and summer months, plus will this year's carnival go ahead? I phoned the planning office the other day to find out more. On the carnival front all systems are go. There will be disruption, plus some of the areas used for shows and displays will have to be moved. The St George playing fields will be utilised more, as will the Tipkinder area. The lake is currently fenced off and this will remain in place while cleaning and i
On Thursday I was wittering on about how Crewe's Queens Park would benefit from a miniature railway, something to draw the crowds and give the kids something to smile about. Something similar to the one the lads and I saw at Chester on Thursday. Simple, self-funding. Well, imagine my surprise when I cycled through the park today. My quest was to drop off a couple of DVDs we'd rented from Blockbuster near the Grand Junction retail park (check out the link, based in Crewe but listed as Staffordshire - eh?). But you know me, any excuse to detour via the rest of the town with camera in hand. So seeing a mini chuff-chuff snaking its way across the park stopped me in my tracks. Ok, so it's not rail bound. It's a tractor in drag. But it looked the business and there were plenty of takers ready to enjoy the trip. It's a local firm, Rubber Legs, who were operating the ride. So fair play to them for a bit of initiative. Only February, the slightest hint of sun in the sky, but Crewe folk wer
As per the first post today it was great to see plenty of people wandering around Queens Park. I think we were all surprised to see the latest works, which gave the park the look of a prison. The entire lake is surrounded by temporary fencing. That must cost a bit. And when you consider that around £3.7m is being invested in the beautiful site, the fact the such fencing probably costs tens of thousands to hire and install, well, it must eat into the budget pretty dang quick!
As the weather was so good today I thought I'd take my camera out to take a few photographs in Queens Park, Bolton, which is where I can usually be found wandering around during my lunch hour looking at this amazing space right in the middle of town.I usually approach from the entrance nearest the centre of town which passes through an abundance of Buddleia, these in turn attract a variety of butterflies, one of which was this Comma as well as the usual suspects of Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Peacock.I could quite happily watch these colourful insects all day but I continue on over a small bridge into the bottom area of the park.The area where I walk is bordered on one side by the River Croal on which many water birds reside, mainly Mallard, Coot and Grey heron On some days, if you're lucky you can see a couple of Kingfishers flying up and down hunting for fish or maybe a Dipper running up and down the river bank.During the spring and summer Brown Trout can eas
