A View from the Pavilion

Much work has been carried out in the past two years, by volunteers, to raise the profile of our dear Clarence Park and its needs.  The remit is – even if it is not expressed in these terms – by looking after the needs of the park, we also look after the needs of ourselves, its users and potential users.   It is a question of health and well-being, active lifestyles, inspiration, providing a place for calm reflection.

Might this be the final season for the Hatfield Road entrance?

Leading the approach has been the Protect Clarence Park group (PCP) and Clarence Park Residents' Association (CPRA).  The rest of us owe them our thanks for their vigilance in energetically pursuing park issues with St Albans City & District Council.

This blog has already featured the scare of possible closure of the remaining Hatfield Road entrance, now fortunately behind us.  This was linked to the deteriorating condition of the timber structure which takes visitors down to park level.  Representatives from CPRA sit on the City Neighbourhoods Committee Task Force and Finish Group (CNCTF); it has formed the opinion that a sturdy metal structure is preferable to a short-life timber one, and that recycled plastic material might be sympathetic to park use for the walkways.  So, work on planning the Hatfield Road entrance improvements is under way.

With  completion of an upgrade project for the Lodge, attention must now turn to the serious structural condition of the pavilion, another of the park's original structures.  It has recently been treated for dry rot, but it has been decades since any serious work of any kind has been undertaken.  At one time the 'pav' was well-utilised on sports days, rallies, cricket matches and cycling events.  Even the hockey matches have now moved elsewhere and cricket remains the only spectator event for which the building can be utilised.  The changing rooms probably lack facilities but are still used, and now that the dry rot treatment is complete it is probable that the high level refreshment space can be re-opened.

Most of us are familiar with the front, but few take in the
view of the rear elevation, with its red brick and tiled decoration.

However, a long-term plan for the pav seems a likely outcome of current discussions.  Though costly, the building which everyone loves, at least from the outside, is in dire need of investment.  It should probably be considered an Asset of Community Value to add status to plans for its revival.  An imaginative plan without compromising the view of the building across the park is surely possible; and there are equally imaginative funding schemes around to help make any reasonable proposal a reality.