Note change of date from 6.3.12 - Our next General Meeting is taking place on Tuesday, 13th March 2012 at the Bowls Club within Princes Park, 6.30 for a 7pm start.  Please come along and have your say and make any suggestions for future projects.  We also need some suggestions for future entertainment the Committee could arrange.  See you there..!!

There is to be a talk on 'Eastbourne in the 60's' on Saturday, 17th March 2012 by one of our members - Phil Gardner.  The venue is the Parish Hall at Christ the King Church, 3 Princes Road, Eastbourne, BN23 6HT - just off Langney Roundabout.  The talk is due to start at 3pm and will finish at 5pm - doors will open at 2pm, entrance fee is £2.50 to include tea / coffee and biscuits.  Please come along and learn a lot about your town in years gone by.

Magnificent Motors will again be held in Princes Park this year, what a brilliant advert for our Park.  This 'Magnificent' event is being held on Saturday and Sunday, 5th and 6th May 2012 and there will be over 500 vintage and classic cars, motorbikes, buses, steam traction engines, commercial and military vehicles and live music.

Eastbourne Extreme is also using some of our Park again this year on Saturday and Sunday, 14th and 15th July 2012.  Also being held on Prince William Parade, Eastern Seafront and Royal Parade.  Please see www.eastbourneextreme.co.uk for more details.

We now have our Green Flag flying in pride of place at the main enterance to Princes Park.  Mayor, Cllr Carolyn Heaps was joined by Jacky Mullender, chair of the Friends of Princes Park, as the new flag was raised.  All the hard work and management by Eastbourne Borough Council and the Friends has paid off as the improvements really impressed the judges when they visited the park back in July.  Well done to all concerned.

The paddling pool in the playground near Channel View Road is going to be replaced with a childrens 'Splash Pad' and should be fully operational for the start of the 2012 summer season (subject to the contract being approved by the Borough's Legal Team).  The proposed observation balloon within the Park is on course and it is hoped to be in situ for the 2012 summer season.

There has been damage done to a number of the Austrian Pines and established euonymus hedge that are situated on the hedge line opposite Monarch House / Fort Fun.  Mr Gareth Williams, Parks and Gardens Manager, asked members to be on the lookout when in the area.  Please take time to report any acts of vandalism.  The Parks & Garden Department have also planted 10 Holm Oaks to form a shaded area on the inside of the hedge.

The entrance road on the corner of Channel View Road and Royal Parade has now been repaired.  Also paths marked for refurbishment within the Park are included in the Development Plan and will be actioned in due course.

The subject of irresponsible dog owners  was raised again at the AGM.  A member of the public said he visited the Park every day and was appalled at the amount of dog mess he comes across.  Mr Williams stated that he would report back to the Environmental Department for action.

The Borough Council are hoping to stage an event within Princes Park similar to the Royal Wedding with a large screen that will cover the London Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  Quality catering is also planned for this event.

Do any members of the public have any old photographs of the original main entrance to Princes Park?  It has been suggested that the gaps either side of the large entrance had wrought iron pannels but no evidence can be found in the archives, to date, of what they looked like.  If there is anyone out there who could help can they please email, in the first instance, any information by clicking the email button at the top right of any page on the site to contact the Committee.

The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge - the final decision as to which open space within Eastbourne is to be nominated for protection under the scheme will be decided by the Borough Council in due course.  As of the 15th November Princes Park had more on-line votes than any other open space nominated.  This is very much to the credit of our members for taking the time to vote and for spreading the word.  Princes Park had 172 votes when the voting closed on the 18th November.