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Call for café to be part of park renovation
A LAST-minute bid to include a continental café in
the grounds of revamped Cantelowes Gardens has won the backing
of 40 residents.
The Camden Road park is undergoing a £2 million renovation
with a new skatepark, football pitch and changing rooms, but
neighbours who met on Thursday say a café would bring
more users in.
The Town Hall is rushing through plans for a pavillion without
a café in order to secure a grant from sports charity
the Football Foundation, despite 60 per cent of residents asking
for a café during the original consultation in 2002.
Ros Cullinan of Friends of Cantelowes Gardens said: “We
have done a survey of nine other London boroughs’ park
departments and they all said they had a policy of encouraging
cafés in parks because it increases usage.
“If there is a café, parents will go to relax while
they watch their children play.
“But it’s very hard for us to object to the plans
because we don’t want the council to miss out on its grant.”
Under the terms of the Football Foundation’s funding, a
contractor must be appointed by the end of March, meaning planning
permission must be received by March 16.
Cantelowes ward Councillor Dermot Greene has suggested a mobile
café could get the go-ahead, with a permanent café
built later.
He said: “If such a facility were to be available and good
usage could be demonstrated, then in due course a more permanent
provision could be provided.” |
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