CPUG meetings are the main forum for airing public concerns about the way the Park is managed and developed in the future. Whatever your main interest in the Park (playground, children, trees, wildlife, fun, football, tennis, running…) you can influence future developments by engaging with us.
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>> Take a look at the August/September 2025 newsletter
September 2025 meeting
Attendees (those who signed the attendance sheet)
Officers/Reps: Alexandra Hamit (Chair), Daphne Steele (Dogs Rep), Richard Crawford (Biodiversity Rep), Sarah Kissack (Waste Management Rep), Amir Dotan (History Rep), Emily Robson (Children and Young Person Rep), Lucy Carter (Running Rep), Yvonne Hill and Hilde Oord (Fundraising Reps)
Park users: Cllr Sade Ettii, Betty Manning, Julie Ibbott and Lois Rollings
1. Apologies
Apologies: John Hudson (co Vice Chair), Sally Hall (Park Animals Rep), Julie Fowler, Isabelle Gore, Margaret Renn (Café Rep), Theresa Boden (co Vice Chair) and Cyndi Diamond.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting
Circulated and approved
3. Chairs Report and Representative Reports
Café
Statement read by Fink’s. Café Rep Margaret Renn had meeting with Fink’s to discuss pricing. Kiosk and walk in part of house now open, sit-down part of café due to open soon. Consumer survey suggested once café has been open for a while. Importance of the café having free water and cups available, and being a shelter space in colder months for non customers highlighted. Concerns on lack of advertising of discounts and lower cost items.
Action: Margaret to enquire on consumer survey. Alexandra to raise concerns on advertising and shelter space.
Cycling day of action/E-Bike campaign
Report on CPUG Cycling awareness, marking and repair event given by Alexandra. Request for more events like this to be held by CPUG. Safe cycling poster shared with group. Lack of cycling lane on Church Street flagged. Suggestion that Stoke Newington School students could help with a bike counting survey.
Notification of CPUG receiving email regarding safety in the park and electric bikes from Cllr Soraya Adejare. A request sent to Soraya for an update, has gone unanswered. Enquiry into whether a speed enforcement day could be held in the park.
Action: Alexandra to arrange bike survey. Cllr Sade Ettii to look into speeding enforcement day.
Biodiversity
Details on Eco volunteering progress, the next session on Saturday 11th October at 12pm and the last 2 bat walks of the year on Friday 19th October 7pm and Friday October 10th at 6.30pm, shared with group by Biodiversity Rep Richard Crawford.
Self Closing Gates
Update from Bruce Irvine given to group. Tender going out this autumn on all park walls and fences for the next 3 years. Gates to be added to the list but works relating to health and safety will be prioritised. Faulty lock on gate at dog-free area mentioned and safety of children with gates being left open and dogs being able to enter play areas.
Action: Alexandra to report faulty gate to Bruce and highlight the importance of self closing gates in the park, for public safety.
Park Animals
Park Animals Rep Sally Hall waiting for a reply to her email to Park Rep Georgie Brown, who was on annual leave.
Action: Sally to connect with Alexandra once an update is received.
CPUG Quiz Night/Defib
Group updated on success of event, and informed it raised £1280 for the park defibrillator. Fundraising Reps Hilde Oord and Yvonne extended thanks to Alexandra for her help, Alexandra returned thanks for all of their hard work and brilliant planning, of fantastic community event. Thanks given to Mayor Caroline Woodley and Hackney Venues for free use of the house, to quizmaster Tom Price, volunteers Chloe, Mattie, Maria, Mark, and to donors:
Fink’s, Rose and Crown, Two Wheels Good, Know and Love, Search and Rescue, Brownswood Pub, Prep, Acoustic Brassiere, Mary Curie and Betty Manning.
Action: Hilde and Yvonne to move forward with defibrillator purchase and installation plans.
Playground Renovations
New accessible swing fitted was unfortunately not fit for purpose, and has now been replaced. Alexandra has suggested a public engagement day on the space similar to the one being held for Hackney Downs Courts, and is awaiting a reply from Hackney Park Rep Georgie Brown. Message from Sophie Cameron to confirm she will be coordinating with Betty Layward School parents. Importance of CPUG Reps feeding back to group highlighted. Regular meetings with Reps, and support from co-chairs mentioned.
Action: Alexandra to feed back to group once information on consultation received. Meeting with CPUG Officers arranged, to discuss additional support for chair.
Rose Garden/Fencing
Broken and sharp edges on fencing with be removed/fixed. Alexandra requested funding for new rose bushes and planting to be approved by the Council or CPUG, and is awaiting a response. Suggestion that CPUG take on the area as part of the monthly eco-volunteering sessions to remove bindweed etc. Suggestion that local businesses/schools could sponsor flowerbed. Maps of garden and beds to be produced, and volunteers allocated to look after different areas/plant species.
Action: Alexandra to speak to Georgie and Quinten and look into having a true to scale map of area produced.
Rats/Sings for lakes
Alexandra designed and displayed to the group, new signs that have now been erected around the lakes, which contain all information that was previously displayed using 3 or 4 signs. No further action required.
Prohibited Action Signs
Update requested on manufacturing fault, but not yet received.
Action: Alexandra to follow up.
World Clean Up Day
Call for volunteers to take part on Saturday 20th September 10am-12pm.
AOB
Paddling Pool Area
Unsafe fencing and lack of informational signage mentioned.
Action: Alexandra to liaise with park management
Butterfield Green/Litter Picking
Attendee suggested there be a litter pick held at our sister park Butterfield Green. Alexandra mentioned she is getting low numbers at the monthly litter picks for Clissold and may reduce them to once every 3 months, so it may not be viable to arrange more picks for Butterfield. Butterfield has its own user group who concentrate on the orchard. Comments that people may not know they can request a picker and bag from Clissold staff, at any time during their normal walks.
Chair extended thanks to Betty Manning for attending every litter pick.
Action: Alexandra to rethink litter pick frequency in 2026 and inform users that they can borrow pickers.
Park Keepers Lodge
Plans for Park Rangers to use the space while the depot is being renovated. Cllr Sade Etti has also asked the council for feedback on plans for the space, and is awaiting a response.
Action: Sade to feedback to group when a response has been received.
Rough Sleeper
The outreach team are aware of the rough sleeper currently camping in the wooded area, and the appropriate steps are be being taken to support them.
Action: Sade to update group on any changes to the situation.
4. Key dates
Free Public Bat Walk
Friday 19th September 7pm-8pm. Meet at Fink’s Pump House
World Clean Up Day
Saturday 20th September 10am-12pm. Meet on grass near skatepark
Free Public Bat Walk
Friday 10th October 6.30pm-7.30pm. Meet at Fink’s Pump House
CPUG Eco Volunteering Session
Saturday 11th October 12pm. Meet at Queen Elizabeth’s Walk Gate
Clissold Park Litter Pick
Saturday 25th October 10am. Meet in Rose Garden
Contacts
Park Keepers: 020 8356 6834 This connects to a mobile so please leave a message.
Park Areas Manager (North): parks@hackney.gov.uk call 020 8356 4215
Café Management: New details coming soon
Clissold House Venues and Events Officer: venuehire@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 5505
Head of Leisure and Green Spaces: lan.Holland@hackney.gov.uk
Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Parks: caroline.woodley@hackney.gov.uk
Police: 020 8721 2923 or 07879 603 106 Clissold.snt@met.police.uk
Clissold Safer Neighbourhood Team: 020 8721 2923
To join Clissold Park Users Group
Sign up for our latest news and browse this website / join our Facebook Group / Follow us on Instagram: CPUG@clissoldparkusergroup / and just come to the meetings!