Park pavilion in Nelson set to become a cafe

8:00pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

Louise Hoole, left, and Petra Wilson at the pavilion in Victoria Park, Nelson, which they hope to transform into a cafe and community hub. Louise Hoole, left, and Petra Wilson at the pavilion in Victoria Park, Nelson, which they hope to transform into a cafe and community hub.

AMBITIOUS plans to turn a park pavilion into a community cafe are a step closer thanks to a regeneration programme.

Louise Hoole and Petra Wilson have been hoping to reopen the Victoria Park pavilion in Nelson, which has been closed for more than six years.

Now they say they are indebted to the assistance offered by the Pennine LEAP business start-up programme.

The pair received free coaching on setting up the social enterprise from one of the LEAP partners, Selnet (Social Enterprise Lancashire Network).

Their dream is to launch a cafe at a revamped pavilion- and supply it with produce from their own kitchen garden.

Louise said: “Support was there for us right from the beginning of our journey.

“Pennine LEAP and the team at Selnet gave us the confidence that our idea could work and that we can run a successful social enterprise.

“Any questions and concerns are resolved no matter big or small they might be.

“Having their support through Pennine LEAP has been invaluable and, most importantly of all, they believe in us.”

The social enterprise, set to be ‘carbon neutral’, will also offer volunteering opportunities and plough any profits back into the firm.

Louise and Petra are also eager to find out what park users would like to see at their new community hub and ask people to email suggestions to theteam@victoriaparkpavilion.org.

Comments (6)

9:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13

jaffa90 says...

Let`s hope they can make use of the bowling greens by growing veg/flowers beause that`s all they were good for,meaning that whoever designed them hadn`t a clue about drainage or the materials to use. EX-MEMBER.
Let`s hope they can make use of the bowling greens by growing veg/flowers beause that`s all they were good for,meaning that whoever designed them hadn`t a clue about drainage or the materials to use. EX-MEMBER. jaffa90

3:21am Fri 18 Jan 13

2 for 5p says...

Quote;

will also offer volunteering opportunities and plough any profits back into the firm

i bet at the same time you will be feathering your own nests.
Quote; will also offer volunteering opportunities and plough any profits back into the firm i bet at the same time you will be feathering your own nests. 2 for 5p

11:13am Fri 18 Jan 13

Izanears says...

I will give it six months max.
As for getting more people to use the park. Have you seen the state of it recently? Flower beds are either neglected or being filled in. You can't walk the paths or through the tunnel because they are ankle deep in mud.
Litter is everywhere and in places the grassed areas are like swamps. And I don't mean just after it has rained. Also, when they have managed to cut the grass not only are the cuttings left to rot, but the wheels of the mowing machines leave deep ruts.
I will give it six months max. As for getting more people to use the park. Have you seen the state of it recently? Flower beds are either neglected or being filled in. You can't walk the paths or through the tunnel because they are ankle deep in mud. Litter is everywhere and in places the grassed areas are like swamps. And I don't mean just after it has rained. Also, when they have managed to cut the grass not only are the cuttings left to rot, but the wheels of the mowing machines leave deep ruts. Izanears

12:31pm Fri 18 Jan 13

ste.g says...

nice idea but i cant help thinking it will become a magnet for thieves and vandals.

good luck tho
nice idea but i cant help thinking it will become a magnet for thieves and vandals. good luck tho ste.g

3:39pm Fri 18 Jan 13

ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123 says...

Izanears wrote:
I will give it six months max.
As for getting more people to use the park. Have you seen the state of it recently? Flower beds are either neglected or being filled in. You can't walk the paths or through the tunnel because they are ankle deep in mud.
Litter is everywhere and in places the grassed areas are like swamps. And I don't mean just after it has rained. Also, when they have managed to cut the grass not only are the cuttings left to rot, but the wheels of the mowing machines leave deep ruts.
HaHa have you seen the state of WALVERDEN park,its like a abandoned logging camp tree's been chopped down all over and just left(for nature)to take its course,nothing to do with cost of disposal,its a proper **** tip and if it gets a gren flag this year then its because of backhanders,anyway girl i wish you well in your new venture
[quote][p][bold]Izanears[/bold] wrote: I will give it six months max. As for getting more people to use the park. Have you seen the state of it recently? Flower beds are either neglected or being filled in. You can't walk the paths or through the tunnel because they are ankle deep in mud. Litter is everywhere and in places the grassed areas are like swamps. And I don't mean just after it has rained. Also, when they have managed to cut the grass not only are the cuttings left to rot, but the wheels of the mowing machines leave deep ruts.[/p][/quote]HaHa have you seen the state of WALVERDEN park,its like a abandoned logging camp tree's been chopped down all over and just left(for nature)to take its course,nothing to do with cost of disposal,its a proper **** tip and if it gets a gren flag this year then its because of backhanders,anyway girl i wish you well in your new venture ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123

7:31pm Fri 18 Jan 13

carrman2 says...

good luck to you , I hope the council allow you to put a sign on the footpath outside , And advertise bacon butties on these cold mornings , You mght get some passing trade then ,
good luck to you , I hope the council allow you to put a sign on the footpath outside , And advertise bacon butties on these cold mornings , You mght get some passing trade then , carrman2

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