This is the page for readers comments

Questions from readers

Will the bird house pets corner be restored  
Will the water fall be restored  
Coronation walk was a major feature will that be restored
Will fishing and boating still be possible 
 There is mention of structural changes but no mention of gardening changes like redesign of beds new trees etc. 
 Will the play area be upgraded 
 Will the greenhouse be back at the park 
 When will it all be completed   

I asked Councillor Andrew Knowles about readers comments and he quickly replied and has
 answered question from our readers as it comes under his portfolio. 

The responses are as follows:-

Pets Corner- the original structure and pets within it were abused on a regular basis, a replacement is not envisaged as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded package of works.

Water fountain – this item was derelict and an eyesore and has been demolished. A replacement will not be provided. This area requires clay to be deposited to support the retaining wall which will take place in the next few weeks.

Coronation Walk- this area will be restored following the completion of the Broad Walk bridge (part of the Wrekin works package)

Boating and angling will be available when the lake has been restored (part of the Wrekin package of works)

New planting will be undertaken when the hard works have been completed

Play area will be improved and relocated towards the end of the programme ie end of 2010

The green houses were redundant and have been demolished; they will not be replaced although the new depot has a poly tunnel for bedding plant to be used in the park

Completion date in the legal agreement with the HLF is 31st December 2010 which can be complied with as long as existing tenders for building works and completion of Bridges and Lake Edges (formerly Wrekin works) are promptly processed by Cheshire East Legal Financial and Procurement Officers and the works do not have to be retendered in accordance with emerging Cheshire East contract and financial rules.

I hope that the above information is sufficient.

Any more questions let us have them and we will put them to Andrew. Its sad that pets corner that has kept

kids happy for over 50 years wont be rebuilt due to yobish behaviour, so the yobs have won?

Gail Wollaston

text area: I am absolutely appalled by the wrecking of a once beautiful park.  

The committee in charge of this muddy fiasco deserve to be hung, drawn and quartered. 

 Have they actually managed to make any practical, sensible and achievable 'plans'?  How sad.  I strongly recommend they do not give up their day jobs. 

 They have failed the people of Crewe totally.  Disgraceful.   

Kevin Morris

text area: I've just found your site this morning - keep up the good work; it will be nice to get an update on the restoration of the park.

  At the moment the place is a complete and utter wreck of the park that I remember from my childhood in the late fifties as a pupil at Whizzy Green School.  

Without wishing to state the blindingly obvious (although surprisingly it sometimes helps)- I don't know which organisation is reviewing the tenders 

but they must be confident that the chosen contractor has the resources to actually complete the work.  Having gone through similar processes in the past

 i.e failed contractors, I would be fairly confident that there will be a significant gap between the original budget, what has been paid to the 1s

t contractor and what is required by the 2nd contractor to finish the work. 
Would it be possible to get monthly update photos (with dates on?? I think that would be quite useful.

Barrie Wall

text area: Thank you so much for a magnificent history of Queen's Park and for reviving many childhood memories of Queen's Park.

 I lived opposite the park from 1939 until I joined the army in 1950 - in what were locally known as "The 'uts." The huts were in fact

 pre-WWI temporary homes built for railway foremen or managers, though I'm not entirely sure when.

During opening hours, the park was our playground. We boated, pitched and putted, and played all kinds of imaginative games

 in and around the shrubbery and wooded areas - always with an eye out for "The Parkie" (Park Keeper) or the then much-feared

 curator - for no good reason I can recall - Mr. Probert. Although we didn't always appreciate it at the time, we also enjoyed many 

wonderful band concerts by The West End Silver Band, Foden's Motor Works Band and others. So inspired was I that I've been playing 

in community concert bands almost from the day I arrived in Canada in 1968.

I'm now 76 and have lived in Gibsons - on BC's Sunshine Coast - and the Metro Vancouver for more than 40 years.

 I'm always pleased to follow the old town's fortunes through the Crewe blog and it's to its host that I'm grateful for the link to your terrific site.  

I've contributed a few articles to the blog - mostly about growing up in Crewe. That was some months ago but I'm sure 

you could still pull them up. My nom-de-plume was Rupert Flange!

Kind regards- and congratulations on a great piece of work.

Barrie Wall