Park lights ?
 

Today noticed a lighting contractor, digging a trench from fielding lane into the park.....
Does this mean that the lights have been given the go ahead? and work began?

Just made me wonder.......Anyone any more info?

Re: Park lights ?
 

Dunno, l thought it was a drainage ditch, but you are probably right.

Fit though, I nearly left the handbrake off.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Its probably cable TV being installed so the council workers have someting to watch in the park while they have very long rest breaks.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Good about time, it'll keep lil park381 happy as well. :)

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Some of these "Lights" have very high lux values for low wattage....but don't know what has been planned for park ?

If britcliffe has anything to do with it, it will be a hugely expensive tower with a bog standard 100w bulb on top, that will blow as soon as it rains (Oh didn't thing about that?) But lets hope not. But it does seem a lot of expense to invest to see if it works ??

Who's betting that there is no intention's of even considering failure?? Sounds like britcliffe talk to keep a few residents quiet..;)

Re: Park lights ?
 

Have seen the lux plot done by HBC and confirmed it for myself with specialist software. The 100W lantern is a SONT100(which is used for side street lighting) the average lux value from the plot is 3.89, minimum value is 0.05 lux. The guy I spoke to at HBC indicated that was all they were asked to provide a street light.
The idea of the neighbourhood watch, was for the light to help with the CCTV cameras, but with that sort of lighting level and given the distance from the play area the cameras are sited the light won't be much good, you need IR to give the lighting level required plus better camera equipment.

Re: Park lights ?
 

The SONT will not be very white - this can cause flickering on some CCTV cameras. the ones the neighbourhood watch have are probably not very good either. I thought you had to put up signs stating that you were recording the public anyway.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Do I need a sign on my head to say I am watching the public?????

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

The police could not identify most people at 6 feet if they had a name badge on them :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

Personally I believe they should be installing lights throughout the park. It is very dark walking through the park at night especially with the state of the paths themselves. They would not need to be mega bright searchlights, just local lighting for the paths.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Sorry about the multiple posts but I can't edit from here.

A 100w SONT lamp has slighly more lumen output than a 500w halogen lamp. The sort people use as security lights.

100w SONT - 9600 Lumens
500w Halogen - 9500 Lumens

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

That is a question I asked of Cllr's Britcliffe & Walmsley, if there was a light being installed in the play area, could HBC not install other security lighting in the park :)
Oh just remembered the street lighting on park lane used to be in the park, along the bottom path. :)

Re: Park lights ?
 

Again correct, but the 100w SONT is at the top of an 8 metre column.
I will scan the lux plot provided by Mr N Lodge of HBC, and post, the area he used to represent the play area was 20M square, the play area is in fact 25.5M x 15M

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

A lux plot of the play area provided by Mr. N Lodge of HBC

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

No the cams are very good thanks, and make great watching.

You only need to inform people if there's sound recording too.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Only joking of course Parky!

You've been framed!!!

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Dunno. l was peering through the bushes tonight and couldn't see a thing, it's ages since they installed the power for it. Perhaps they're waiting for it too become less light and thus saving us all money?

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

I heard that many Park Lane residents did not want the light. Are the Neighbourhood Watch for it or against it?

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Oi, Squirel Nutkin!

We've been here before, thee and me. l know of three members of the Neighbourhood watch that live facing the playground who don't live on Park Lane.

The most vicious and personal attack came from someone on Park Lane who would have to stand on a chair in her window to even see the play area, so how the lights are going to ruin her [get a] life is a mystery to me?

From your new little tree on the edge of Blackburn hopefully the lights won't shine into your hollow, and if it does may even let you find your nuts more easily. :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

That light was one of the reasons I moved, my bay window was in direct line with the play area, some 80 metres away. The fielding lane houses are double that, with trees blocking the view of the play area.

Yes we have been there before, so we'll not start that one again :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

You had a tree with a bay window? Well b*gger me- how grand.:confused: :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

You can't have moved just because of the play area lights, they haven't been switched on yet?

Re: Park lights ?
 

:D May have...........then again it could have been the parking problems :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

Poor little Rindy couldn't park outside Mum's last night, as the road is all dug up along with the new box that was installed a month or so ago.

Looks like illumination is imminent?

Perhaps it's going to be trimed to coincide with the turning on of Blackpool's illuminations, which l think is August Bank Holiday.

People might come from miles around to marvel at them, even park381 from his new abode on the Blackburn/Hyndburn border.:p

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Are you sure is was not switched on. After all HBC did say it would not cause a problem for residents :D :D :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

You may be right there Neil, but I think I would have noticed a green 8M column near the play area.
Some of the residents are not bothered now due to the overgrown hedges along the park wall, seems like someone stole the hedge trimmers HBC's park worker used to use :D :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Perhaps they'll organise an official ceremony.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Why don't they just switch it on?

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Shall I nip up tonight and turn it on? I have a key somewhere that opens lamp posts :D :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

I can lend you 10p for the meter?

Re: Park lights ?
 

I will meet you there at 9pm and we will have our own turn on party.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Wouldn't that be funny. We could take a picture of a turning on ceremony and send it to the papers. PB and Walmsley would wonder why they hadn't been invited. lol

Re: Park lights ?
 

Don't mention photograph, garinda will turn up for sure now.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Thanks Gayle, I have been waiting for you for 45mins. I got bored and turned it on without you :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

An opening?

When?

Where?

Will there be nibbles?

What shall I wear?

:camera8:

Re: Park lights ?
 

You missed it mate. It was last night.

Re: Park lights ?
 

I will be at Mum's for tea tonight. I will stay until it goes dark then, to report if they are as bright as the people on Park Lane feared they would be.

I will look out of the window, and not loiter in the bushes though.

Re: Park lights ?
 

No 'they' mate, there is only one light. It is at the Fielding Lane end of the play area.

Re: Park lights ?
 

I was so busy trying to see 'the' light as I arrived at my Ma's, I hit the gate post and damaged my bumper:(

God it's hardly as big as Blackpool Tower, or bright enough to interfer with passing aircraft that may be tempted to land in the park because of it.

As I suspected, a lot of fuss about nothing, and hardly worth Park381 moving to another tree on the border with Blackburn because of the fear that the bright lights would interfere with his hibernation.;)

Re: Park lights ?
 

I don't know what you mean. I was waiting there and you stood me up!

Re: Park lights ?
 

Those are your thoughts my friend, not the thoughts of the residents that live facing it. Time will tell if the light has worked or not, if there is a reduction in problems with the youth after dark in the play area, then I will hold my paw up, the light will have worked, but if the youth stay on drinking and causing problems even later cause of the nice light play area, then I'll be the first to say " I told you so"
ps..........my tree on the border is great, wish I had moved years ago. :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

I'm afraid even I can only give my own 'thoughts'.

I have seen the light tonight, l even walked along Park Lane, and as was already mentioned, because the hedge is getting so high, the extra illumination didn't bring on so much as a migraine.

I'm happy to report at this early stage, the newly illuminated children's playground was vandal/teen drinker free.

I too am waiting for the time when I can say 'I told you so', and the playground remains safe for children, and not a darkened meeting place for drunken yobs, like it was when it was behind the Stop and Rest and hidden from view.

Your new abode maybe in for an influx of other moaning minnies, whose lives are blighted by this really unasssuming improvement to the park.;)

Re: Park lights ?
 

garinda, that is good news, if the play area was clear of drinkers & yobs after dark, but we will just wait and see what the long term results are. Remember the planning permission was just for a temporary period of 12 months.
As for the old play area, it's possible that this area will be included in the "lottery scheme" and become a skate board area or football pitch complete with floodlights. :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

Yes, if it does become a skateboard park or a football pitch, there will be nothing for any yobs that congergate there to damage though.

I can't count how many times I took my brother's kids to the old playarea, only to find every swing and other ride broken. The resiting of the playground, lights or no lights, has been a success because there hasn't been any vandalism at all, despite all the protests from a vocal few on Park Lane, in the six months it has been opened.

It's been a pleasure to watch the children of the borough enjoying the park's facilities.:)

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Good, we agree.

The children, who the playarea was designed for, certainly didn't get much pleasure from where it was sited before under the trees, in the hollow, and in a place where the amusements were always broken by the vandals.

To me that sounds like a success.

Re: Park lights ?
 

That's true, but the new area has had play items out of action because of damage caused by vandals, don't know if they have been repaired yet.
It is a nice facility for the 12 year olds and younger. It is also a focal / meeting point for the older element, that is the main problem.

HBC expected the residents of park lane to watch the area for them, and call the police if they saw any yobs or vandals in the play area, there's only one problem now the residents can't see the play area cause of the over grown hedges :eek:

Re: Park lights ?
 

I was there yesterday, and can report that all the play equipment was in good,safe, working order, which it certainly wasn't at it's old site.

Like I said, any residents who cant bear the sight of an over grown hedge, the new light, or children enjoying the facilities can always decamp to the border with Blackburn.

The residents of Park Lane aren't expected to spend all their precious time spying on the play area, the new site means it is monitered by the Neighbourhood Watch cctv, again something that wasn't possible before.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Don't make me laugh, monitored by the Neighbourhood watch, with the kit they have. Just for information I did all the trials with both Colour and Mono cameras from a distance of some 85 metres away, it was not possible to identify anyone in the play area. The police could not identify a yob kicking a car wing mirror off at 5 metres under the street lights.

One day I will tell you why I moved away from park lane.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Yes but you also posted the distance from the play area to both Park Lane and Fielding Lane. You were either wrong then as well, or if you paced it out, momentum must have made your gait uneven because of the brew.:)

Re: Park lights ?
 

Squirrels have little strides, I can't put that you will take the p$$$ out of his little pants.

Squirrels have little steps (so they can reach the tree), nope thats no good either.

Squirrels can't read the f*&$(n tape measure. Thats better.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Would you like a copy of the section of OS map provided by HBC, and the loan of my scale rule,you can read the metric scale :D
By brew do you mean the type in a bottle ;)

Re: Park lights ?
 

Metric?

I always measure squirels in inches, once they've dropped their nuts of course.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

I won't be holding my breath re: the much mooted million pound make over. It's all dependent on the formation of a friends of the park sheme being in place before the grant is even applied for.

Perhaps it could be tied in with King William's silver jubilee celebrations.

Re: Park lights ?
 

I think the friends group will be in place by the end of next month. Or that is what should be happening.

Re: Park lights ?
 

I really hope so, other friends groups I've been involved with have made a big difference.

Like I said though, the much heralded million pound grant is far from a certainty, and sounds to me more like a bit of spin from HBC.

Re: Park lights ?
 

It's not that sort of group :D

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

If HBC were to grant the money what strings would be attached? A park is for the pleasure of Joe Public so why should they stall or contemplate shuting it. Its time the purse a public purse that was opened for people to enjoy pubic ammenities.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

No you are right, it was a common group, ie: The Friends of Tooting Common, and we were very succesful, thank you.

God are you never serious? I'm having a gold medal made for poor Romps having to put up with you.:p

Re: Park lights ?
 

Yes part of the main gate is still chained shut, probably to stop people from Park Lane driving in there to park. The smaller gate is still open, and you can even get a pram through there.

The park won't be closed because of safety issues, it's still, even in it's sorry state of affairs, in better repair than the newly laid flags in Accrington town centre. The council will just continue paying out any claim against them uncontested.

The grant isn't from HBC, it is to be applied for from the Lottery grants agency, although reading the press releases you'd think it was already in the bag, in fact any park in the borough, or indeed the country, can apply.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Now thats what I call out and out cheek they are resposible for parks. Ryddings park was a beautiful place to visit once upon a time so HBC need to get toout of the preverbial and fix it their fingers wether they get lottery money or not.

Re: Park lights ?
 

I didnt know there was lottery grants available for parks, that could be an intresting snippet for the future. :)

Re: Park lights ?
 

I know you think of me as a God but some people on here may be offended :rolleyes:. I am serious when required, I use AccyWeb for recreation and de-stressing myself.

It has been half open for a few days, with the chain removed. I worked through it this morning and noticed it does not look like it has not been repaired yet.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Worked through it?

You only got little hands?:(

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

I know, he once drove into my Dad's car whilst pished.

Ah, the good old days when you could look up to the professional classes.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

Yes................

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?
 

I think the funding that they're talking about is English Heritage. I'm not sure but I don't think that's the same as Heritage Lottery. Anyway, yes any project can apply that has a heritage theme which of course, restoring an old park would be. Not just any old park can apply, Rhyddings is able to apply because it's a site with some history.

I'm still unsure about the status of the funding bid though. But FYI - to be able to apply you need to consult the public and local community groups, you then need to decide what specific restoration work you want to take place and how it will work for the community. So far, from what I understand the council has only discussed a restoration grant with the funders in principle. That means a rough outline of the work needed and a visit from the funders to the park - we know this has happened.

After that a bid would need a lot of work to put together properly for something of this size - I'm guessing at least a couple of month's worth of work to get all the consultation in and the quotes that you need to back up the ideas. Then it takes about four months for it to go through the funders system.

I see no sign of any consultation at this stage and the group hasn't even been formed yet. This is not going to be a quick process.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Since the park was only farmland until mid Victorian times, this would apply to an awful lot if not most parks. I can't think of any new parks that would wish to apply, if there are any.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Was there not a condition of the grant, where HBC had to add some funding as well.

I know the head of parks did a presentation at one of the area council meetings, looked like they had the scheme outlined then, paths, new signs, and the refurbishment of the existing buildings were amongst the proposed works.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Yes Park. If the bid is less than £1 million, 10% has to be found. If more than £1 million then 25% has to be found. You can guess why they want the grant to be £999,999.99 can't you.

Re: Park lights ?
 

That would be a very fine line eh.
Could be they will ask the Friends of the park for help raising the 10%

Re: Park lights ?
 

You are probably right. Fund raising is one of the groups purposes.

Re: Park lights ?
 

HBC have committed themselves to find the £100,000 for the grant.

Re: Park lights ?
 

Re: Park lights ?