Nick Hopper

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The petition

The park at Hotham in Bognor Regis has a history dating back to the origins of the growth of the town in the late 18th century. It has undergone extensive regeneration in recent years with a £2.2 million face lift making it a unique and valuable asset to the people of the town in terms of its natural beauty and the annual events that are planned and take place there. 
Outline planning permission has been granted for a new Cafe in the park replacing the existing concession whose lease expires at the end of the year. 
We are proposing a brand new and unique facility befitting the upgrade of the park that will provide a unique experience for the people of Bognor and tourists alike. A tree top cafe that sits amongst the canopy of the park and interacts with its surroundings providing a learning resource and a completely interactive holistic experience. The cafe will be built, managed and operated by the people of Bognor and include meeting rooms for community use as well as linking to play areas and activities amongst the trees in an entirely sustainable way that minimises impact to its surroundings.
If you feel the tree top cafe at Hotham would provide a unique resource for Bognor Regis and is something you would love to see in the park, then please add your signature to this petition which will form part of our bid to Arun District council.


CLICK HERE TO SIGN

Community Champions

I attended a network morning in Bersted this morning with a view to signing up for a leadership course with Angie Konrad of Voicewaves.  The basic premise of the course is to give community interest groups the opportunity to pick up skills in leadership techniques as they drive projects forward.  The course runs for 11 weeks starting in October.  While I was there I met and spoke with the High Sheriff of Sussex, I never realised we still had sheriffs in this country, a ceremonial role apparently but one that has existed since the 8th century !!

Community Champions

I attended a network morning in Bersted this morning with a view to signing up for a leadership course with Angie Konrad of Voicewaves.  The basic premise of the course is to give community interest groups the opportunity to pick up skills in leadership techniques as they drive projects forward.  The course runs for 11 weeks starting in October.  While I was there I met and spoke with the High Sheriff of Sussex, I never realised we still had sheriffs in this country, a ceremonial role apparently but one that has existed since the 8th century !!

Current concessions

A lot of news and ill feeling exists about the way Arun District Council have conducted themselves over the award of concessions and leases to business' in Bognor Regis.  This is particularly with reference to the train fiasco when they gave the contract to their own internal commercial operation, Inspire Leisure to run the outdoor train along the seafront when they don't actually have a train !  Rosemary Warren of Hotham Park heritage trust recently asked councillors at chamber to clarify their position as regards future awards for concessions as well as noting the infringement of Inspire run refreshment outlets in the park which are in breach of Arun's own contract with Zoran Drabik who runs the current concession at Hotham and whose lease is due to expire with no terms for re-negotiation i December of this year.  I recently spoke with Zoran just the other day and he is not a HAPPY man !!

Recent Happenings

Ok, we have had two meetings as a loose working collective to initiate the feasibility of the T-House.  These have included Peter Stanley of Aldingbourne Trust, Su Cloud and Sue Harris of Community Arts Bognor Regis (CABR), Dave Barton of Greener Bognor Network, Laurie Barnes of Hotham Park Heritage Trust and Bognor Civic Society, Rosemary Warren of Hotham Park Trustees and Ian Harris of Hotham Park House residents Association with Michael Rowland Parks Manager from Arun District Council feeding into our first meeting.  We  are currently working on a document that will form the basis of our statement of interest, which is available for viewing by e-mailing nick_hopper@tiscali.co.uk

Feedback from WSSEN

Good network oppurtunity.  Good workshop on Funding routes, lively speaker from Univ of Brighton.  Green Business workshop was OK, Social Impact Measurement session was largely pointless from my perspective but did raise interesting chat about the role of social enterprise services measuring their own effect on community and whether this is quantifiable in all instances.
Useful contacts,
Paul Smith Frame of Mind
Judith Badger Univ Brighton
Coastal Cookies
Suzi Buckley, Birthlink
Nick Rodgers, Univ. Brighton
Rowan Wallis, WSSBP
Ana Fajardo WSCC
Bill Turner, MIND
Jacie Clay, WSCC
Paul Mackie, Storrington Comm hub

Tomorrow (Thursday) I am attending the West Sussex Social Enterprise Network conference and workshop in Billingshurst.  They have a number of potentially useful learning outcomes including funding avenues and business organisation.

Initial Consultation Meeting at Arun District Council

An initial consultation meeting was held between myself and members of Arun's parks services including Phillipa Dart at 10:30am today.  The initial concept proposals were enthusiastically received.  Some concern by landscape advisors over how it might work with exsiting trees in the park with more general advice offered in approaching appropriate funding avenues.

Outline planning consent is under consideration at Arun planning for a standard construction building in Hotham Park; however we are proposing an alternative scheme that will take the form of a Tree top house which enjoys views across the canopy of Bognor's historic park. Its development will act as a catalyst for micro-regeneration for the area and be built, designed and run along sustainable lines, which will be defined subject to community involvement and discussion and will be a potential hub for Healthy Eating in the wider community.

The Café will be run as a working co-operative and involve key stakeholders in local government and park trustees. It will be designed as a unique tourist attraction, and help define Bognor’s image whilst offering an exemplar to the notion of sustainable, community lead projects in the town. 

You have been invited to join the working group to help form an expression of intent to Arun District Council in September. A Design Team is being formed to oversee concept proposals, however we are also looking for highly motivated, skilled, enthusiastic and dedicated members who are happy to subscribe to the outcomes and objectives of the group; People who can offer the following relevant talents and experience should contact us:-

Knowledge and experience of running or establishing co-operatives;
Funding routes and opportunities;
Managing Food Retail;
Experience with dealing with local Government;
Business Management;
Experience with Community initiatives;
Administration support;
Building and Construction;
Running community groups or networks.

If you feel you would like to be involved on the working group proposals please respond by return e-mail or subscribe @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=133449500016661&ref=ts , giving some idea of skills and initial thoughts.