Hands On Our Park website (unofficial) - who or what is/are HOOP?

Some of the members can be seen above - some of the very hardy ones who braved blizzard conditions on 12th March 2006 to protest about the council's plans.

You can click the photos at the side for bigger views.

The group originated when it became clear that the 'Friends of Telford Town Park' was a group specifically set up by BTW in order to 'help draw down funding' (Borough of Telford and Wrekin)

The Friends of Telford Town Park seem to have achieved very little and active membership of members of the public is minuscule. Their stated aims are to 'identify and protect the boundaries of the Park and to oppose unsuitable development'

Unfortunately over several years the Friends of Telford Town Park have not been able to get a sensible reply from BTW about the boundaries.

[Edit 23rd June - the original, council-supported Friends of Telford Town Park have now achieved some lottery funding and organised a 'Wild Walk' - it is good to see them becoming more active at last].

When the new proposals became known, a new group - HOOP, Hands On Our Park - was formed following a packed public meeting (250+) on 1st February 2006.

The Aims of HOOP are:

• Keeping the Telford Town Park as Telford’s Village Green
• Ensuring its availability for the wider community and future generations.

The Objects of HOOP are:

• Identifying and defining the boundaries and uses of the park
• Ensuring Telford Town Park is improved and not neglected
• Protecting it from inappropriate use and development
• Overseeing maintenance by the appointed contractors and their employers
• Encouraging the local authority to carry out appropriate maintenance and conservation of the Park for future generations
• Promoting Telford’s Village Green to the wider community
• Further to this ‘HOOP’ shall endeavour to offer continued support and guidance for all involved in the best use of the Park for all.

The full constitution can be read here.

If you are interested in contacting HOOP, the best way is to have a look at our online forum here and make yourself known there. Alternatively the Chair, Rob Breeze, can be contacted on 01952 582874 (office hours).