Written 23/01/06

On Sunday SCDC held a public meeting on the future of the park. It was very well attended with every seat taken and most of the next level down full of people standing and sitting.

There was a short introduction from Cllr Deborah Roberts (the portfolio holder), Malcolm Busby (head ranger) and Simon Macintosh (SCDC manager responsible for the park) and then over an hour of questions and points from the floor.

There were lots of comment from the floor on the car parking which villagers predict will result in visitors parking elsewhere, especially outside people's houses (Old School Lane and Fen Road) and in the community centre car park.

Other issues raised were primarily over how better use could be made of the park to generate income. Ideas which came up several times were:

• improved cafe facilities
   
• educational opportunities (especially adult, which is apparently where the money is)
   
• hire of the visitor centre
   
• camping and/or caravaning in the park

Jane Coston (chair of Milton PC) raised the issue of the sale of park land for housing, which was mentioned in the draft minutes of the last SCDC Milton Country Park Advisory Group meeting, and got an assurance from Cllr Roberts that this was no longer on the table.

Right at the end Garry Simcock, Chief Executive of Cambridge Mencap got a plug in from the floor for his proposal to take over management of the park but got fairly short shrift from Cllr Roberts who says that the council is now hoping to keep management of the park in house.

You can find more photos on the meeting online here.

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