The friends of Tothill Park - These are random images from the site gallery

Tothill Park is a green oasis of some 6.73 hectares in the St Judes area of Plymouth. Generally bounded on the north and east by Lanhydrock Road, Cleveland Road and the railway line to the south and Egerton Crescent to the west, it provides a wealth of facilities for both local residents and the wider Plymouth population - it is a vital part of the community. The friends of Tothill Park is a group of local volunteers who share a common interest in revitalising the park and bringing it into the 21st century. Our aims are: Regenerate the park and the surrounding facilities. Provide a safe environment where users may exercise, socialise or take time out to relax. Provide a park and facilities for all members of the community regardless of race, gender, age, religion or disability. Explore means of funding to maintain and improve the park. Improve the park environment through re-planting whilst encouraging local wildlife. We are always looking for other people to join us in making Tothill Park a more enjoyable place. Please click on Help the Group in the How To menu on the left to find out some of the many ways in which you can contribute.

The Friends of Tothill Park are fighting the Northern Bypass!

We are against any new road passing through the St Judes area and will resist plans to get one built! You can click here to see what we are fighting against and then click here to add your signature to our anti bypass petition. The address of this web site is www.tothillpark.co.uk - Tell a friend and ask them to sign the petition!  Questions asked on the friends of Tothill Park web site On Fri 28th Mar 2008 @ 11:47 GMT, Joanna Sinclair said this: Could you please tell me where I can locate an aerial plan for the proposed Northern Bypass? Many thanks. On Fri 28th Mar 2008 @ 16:23 Phil replied with: Joanna, Thankyou for your enquiry, unfortunately the FOTP Committee are only privy to the information which Plymouth City Council (PCC) has made public, if you use the link on the this website it will take you directly to the PCC website which may give you the information you require. Good luck....... On Fri 14th Mar 2008 @ 20:51 GMT, mick murphy said this: I've signed the online petition but wonder what facility is available for those local residents without an internet connection. Is there a paper version which can be used to canvass additional signatures? On Sat 15th Mar 2008 @ 11:51 Phil replied with: Mick, Thankyou for signing our online petition, we are currently looking for volunteers to form a St. Jude's Residents Association which will assume the lead on the Northern Route issue. Looking at the website you will hopefully realise that the FOTP Committee was set up to improve the facilities and infrastructure of Tothill Park. The Northern Route scheme needs a group entirely dedicated to raising the awareness in the community and campaigning against it, the FOTP Committee will obviously provide any group their full backing. If you are interested in volunteering to be part of this group please contact us and we'll put you in touch with like minded individuals. On Fri 07th Mar 2008 @ 15:47 GMT, chris riggs said this: Could you please tell me when the old point quay building was demolished and was it on the site of the new rowing club building. My wife and I were down ther today and it was nice to see the new display boards. On Sat 15th Mar 2008 @ 11:45 Phil replied with: Chris, I'm sorry we can't help you with this one, perhaps contacting the rowing club directly may give you the answer to when the "Point Quay" building was demolished. Blagdon Meadows are important both as a recreational facility and equally so for wildlife, Plymouth City Council manage the site and are keen to encourage more wildlife and use the area as a educational asset for children. On Mon 11th Feb 2008 @ 14:09 GMT, Matthew Green said this: Like most residents of St Judes I am very concerned about the impact the proposed Northern Route by-pass would have on the already suffering residents of Knighton Road (and surrounding area). I have a house which backs on to the railway line and can confirm that it is well used at present. I bought this house because it is a quiet area and it was not over looked by other properties. The council have already taken away one of those reasons, resulting in our homes being not only over looked, but many of the new flats (ground floor) will have a direct eye line into my 1st floor rooms. I am concerned that the writing is already on the wall for this proposal and fear that if we don’t act quickly then the decision making process will have gone too far. The pollution, noise, decimation of the area and increase in traffic will have a significant effect on our quality of lives and because of the impact it will have on house prices I won’t be able to afford to move! We are all aware what precious little control we have over these decisions so we need to ensure we act now to try and halt this proposal before all the reasons, I and many others moved to this area are gone forever. I am happy to help in anyway I can. On Thu 21st Feb 2008 @ 18:59 Phil replied with: Matthew, Many thanks for you email, I appreciate your concerns about the proposed Northern Route and we on the FOTP committee share these concerns however I must emphasise that the Northern Route still remains an option but it has, by no means been decided as the preferred route of Plymouth City Council (PCC). I believe a state of hysteria is being whipped up through rumours and the lack of information from PCC isn't helping matters. The local councillor attends our monthly meetings and advises the committee on any developments to this scheme and we also have two members of the committee who sit on the liaison group meetings as observers. We in the process of inviting a member of the committee who will decide the best option for PCC to hold a public meeting and we will advertise it once a date has been agreed on this website and on our park noticeboard.   Ask a question or leave a comment  See all previously asked questions etc    Recent news from the park (showing 8 of 54 published articles) If you would like to be informed whenever we publish a fresh news story, click this link and join the mailing list. The FOTP Commitee invite you to a community event in Tothill Park. Published by - Phil Published on Mon 31st Mar 2008 @ 15:41 GMT  The FOTP was recently awarded substantial funding from PLAY ENGLAND to upgrade the play equipment throughout Tothill Park as part of the Phase Two "Family Zone" project. It is intended to enclose the circular grassed area and designate it a "dog free" zone in order to allow adults and children to enjoy the facilities without the fear of dog mess. The existing play equipment will be removed as it is deemed no longer fit for purpose and be replaced with a wider range of equipment catering for 0 - 5 years and 6 - 12 years age groups. We also intend to place picnic benches in the area to allow families to relax and enjoy the park. On Saturday 5th April 08 commencing at 10:00 the FOTP committee in partnership with Plymouth City Council will host a community event, next to the old play equipment. This will give you the chance to have your say on what play equipment you would like to see in the "family zone". There will be an opportunity for the whole family to watch and help make a variety of items from wood under the guidance of an expert which we intend to place in the park as permanent features. There will also be a variety of games for the children hosted by Sutton Play Rangers. This is a great opportunity to meet people, have your say and have fun, everyone, no matter what age are welcome and we will be delighted to discuss any issue concerning Tothill Park you may have. Multi Use Games Arena (MUGA) completed. Published by - Phil Published on Sun 30th Mar 2008 @ 11:08 GMT  The FOTP Committee and Plymouth City Council (PCC) are delighted to announce the completion of the re-developed 5-a-side court which had fallen into disrepair over the years. This facility has been provided using the latest technology and enables football, basketball and urban hockey to be played in a safe environment, whilst being over 80% quieter than the previous court and more vandal proof. The Chairman of FOTP said " I'm delighted this important asset for our local community has been re-developed, it had fallen into disrepair over the years and was a danger to anyone who used it. Through numerous public consultations and feedback from young children and youths it was highlighted as a high priority for our committee to address. With the help of PCC we have delivered on one of our promises and have provided a state-of-the-art facility which has already proved very popular with a wide age group". The MUGA is a significant piece of the Phase One re-development of Tothill Park which, when completed this year will provide a new basketball court, an outdoor fitness suite, a youth shelter and play facilities for older children. Partners and communities together (PACT) meeting - Wednesday the 9th of April at 1900hrs Published by - Rob Published on Sat 22nd Mar 2008 @ 10:17 GMT  The police will be running the latest partners and communities together (PACT) meeting on the 9th of April at 7pm in Tothill Community Centre. You can air your concerns about the crimes you feel need prioritising directly to the police and find out what they are doing to reduce crime in the local area. Please pass this information on to all you know and show your support for our local Police team by attending. Eastern Corridor Published by - Pat Published on Sat 01st Mar 2008 @ 13:18 GMT  A question that is often asked by residents who are confused by the need for the, ‘Northern and Southern Routes’, is why do PCC need to make such big changes to the transport system to the east of Laira Bridge. There seems to be some confusion over the size of the developments planned for Sherford and Plymstock Quarry. There are 5,500 dwellings plus shops, schools and other supporting services planned for Sherford, which will make it a town more than double the size of Totnes, which had a population of just over 8,000 recorded at the 2001 census. Plymstock Quarry development is planned to have 1,600 dwellings plus all the support services required. With a combined total of over 7,000 dwellings, and an increase in population of over 20,000 on the west side of the River Plym, it means a huge increase in traffic coming into Plymouth. The PCC website has the details of the planning applications for both developments and these can be found at:- www.plymouth.gov.uk on left of page select; Environment and Planning on left select; Planning on right select; Planning Online and in the boxes that appear, fill in, Sherford or 06/02036/OUT Plymstock Quarry or 07/01094/OUT and all the details of the developments are available East End Transport Community Liaison Group Published by - Pat Published on Sun 24th Feb 2008 @ 09:34 GMT  Held Monday 28th January 2008 Minutes made available 20/02/08 The group was brought up to date with happenings since the last meeting, including confirmation that the application for the Sherford Development would go to Plymouth’s Planning Committee at the end of February. Because Sherford falls within two Planning Authorities, the development also needs planning permission from South Hams.br /> PCC have already met with the local bus operators to get their views and input, as to how the transport scheme would work. There was no mention of any one else other than bus operators being asked for their views or even to attend. When PCC were asked how questions and issues raised by members of the public were processed, the system was explained to the group. All questions and issues raised by the group or members of the public, were recorded in the Issues Register, a report is prepared from this register, and put before the Scrutiny Committee of the Council. The Issues Register is updated from the answers and decisions given by the Scrutiny Committee and the Register will then be made available. The question of a Light Rail Transit as part of the Transport Strategy was raised, but was dismissed as being too expensive. The whole Transport Strategy is based solely on channelling the increased road traffic from the new developments to Plymouth City Centre coming either from Deep Lane, down the A38 and along Embankment Road, or across Laira Bridge to join either the Southern or Northern Route onto Exeter Street. If the environmental study that is currently being carried out on the Southern Route, makes the Northern Route the preferred option, then traffic would be routed onto a new build road, that would use the existing railway line along Tothill Park to Friary Park. When it was explained that between 5000/6000 tons per month are moved on the rail line from Laira and Cattedown Wharves, the group was told that the intention is to retain the rail link to Cattedown Port FoTP will continue to keep residents informed as soon as information becomes available, as FoTP are the local organisation who are prepared to put resident’s views to the PCC and to make public the answers. No to the Northern Bypass! Published by - Rob Published on Thu 07th Feb 2008 @ 11:54 GMT  Over the last few weeks, The Friends of Tothill Park have become aware of a groundswell of opinion rising up within the local St Judes community against the building of the new "Northern Bypass" to carry traffic from the forthcoming Sherford development into Plymouth. Any such road would clearly have a devastating effect not only on Tothill Park but also on the entire St Judes area. A major road carrying the traffic that is currently routed along Embankment Road through the middle of a quiet residential area and community parkland would cause massive noise and pollution to park users and residents alike. This week workers have been seen surveying parts of the proposed route and this has prompted the FOTP into voting on our official position. The committee vote was unanimous against any such proposals for the Northern Bypass. We are now firm in our stance against the Northern Bypass and hope to act as a focal point for all those who hold similar views. In our first move we will now attempt to force the council into holding a local public meeting where residents and interested parties can put questions to Plymouth City Council transport department and the transport planners and show them that any plans to impose this road on the community will be met with firm resistance. Moves are already in place to make this happen and as soon as we have a date for the meeting we will publish it here. In addition we hope to raise a petition against the route that we can present to the council at some future point. In order for this to be successful we need as many people to sign it as possible and would ask you to stand with us and support us in our efforts against the road by signing the petition. You can find the petition by clicking here . Clearly there will be much to report on progress over the coming months and we are certain this will be a long and drawn out process with the council hoping that time will dim the perceived effects of the road. If we are to be successful in our fight we need your support. We would ask that you join our mailing list so that we can inform you directly of any developments and make you aware of the nature and timing of any protests that may occur in the future. To do that please click here Would you like to have an input in how Tothill Park looks? Published by - Phil Published on Tue 22nd Jan 2008 @ 19:11 GMT  Ladies & gents, The FOTP committee in association with Plymouth City Council (PCC) will be holding their monthly "working morning" with the aim of putting up the second noticeboard, pruning the rosebed and picking up litter through the park. If you would like to meet the committee members, share your thoughts on the parks redevelopment or the proposed Sherford Community road plans then please come along, we are always delighted to meet new friends. We will be meeting outside of the Bowling Pavilion on Saturday 26th January 2008 at 10:00, the working mornings normally lasts about 2 hours, although any time you can spare is appreciated. Plymouth City Council website link for the proposed Sherford Community road infrastructure. Published by - Phil Published on Thu 10th Jan 2008 @ 04:35 GMT  Ladies & gents, We have had many concerned local residents enquiring about the the proposed road lay outs and how they will affect us, please find an image below that shows the possible Northern Bypass Route. Please also be aware that PCC is currently looking at several options and no decision has been made but we will keep you informed of the progress in our news articles. You can also click [here] to visit the plans page where you can see all the originally proposed routes but please be aware that most of the other options have already been discarded leaving scenario 7 (as the picture above) and the more expensive (includes a new bridge over the river but essentially the same) scenario 8. There is another scenario not shown in these plans which is the Southern Bypass Route but this is currently least favoured.    See all archived news stories (54 published articles so far) ... If you would like to be informed whenever we publish a fresh news story, click this link and join the mailing list.