Friends of Marple Memorial Park Complaints Policy

Adopted on the 9th Day of December 2019

1.0 Introduction

The Friends of Marple Memorial Park Group is very active in the maintenance of the park and, since it was formed in 2003, has raised significant sums of money for projects to improve the park for the benefit of the local community.

It is easy to understand that members of the public may conclude that the group is responsible for the day-to-day management and policing of the park but this is not the case. This is the responsibility of the appropriate authorities.

2.0 Objective

The objective of this policy is to make it clear to members of the public that Friends of Marple Memorial Park are a volunteer community group and are not responsible for the day-to-day management or policing of the park. It aims to direct complaints to the appropriate authority and to explain how Friends of the Park will respond to complaints addressed to them.

3.0 Background

Friends of the Park work in partnership with and are guided by Stockport Council, who own and manage the park on behalf of the community.

The group has raised money for many improvements to the park, including the skatepark, informal sports areas, play areas, benches, flowerbeds, shrub beds, woodlands, Boules court, ornamental and commemorative features and many of the park's other general infrastructure and facilities. The group's volunteers also work hard to maintain, preserve and improve the park's assets. However, the group does not have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the park. This is the responsibility of Stockport Council.

For example: Although the group has raised funds for improvements to the skatepark, it is not responsible for addressing or responding to anti-social behaviour or vandalism at the facility, how it is used by members of the public, or for clearing glass and litter (although it may do so as part of the group's regular park maintenance activities during organised volunteer task days).

3.0 How to complain

In the first instance all complaints about the park, including anti-social behaviour, vandalism, dog fouling, littering, street lights not working, toilets closed or the like should be addressed to Stockport Council.

The group is happy to be copied in on complaints sent to the council if the complainer considers it appropriate to do so.

Any complaints received by Friends of the Park will be forwarded to the Greenspace / Neighbourhoods Team and / or Local Councillors.

If the council considers it appropriate they may engage with the group in order to formulate their response to any complaint received. In this case the group will support the council as best they can in helping them to respond to a complaint but will not enter into correspondence with the complainer except in what it considers to be exceptional circumstances.

If you think your complaint is really important, if you do not receive a timely response from the council, or if you are not happy with the response you have received, Friends of the Park recommend contacting the three Local Councillors for the Marple North Ward, where the park is situated.

If Local Councillors consider it appropriate they may engage with the group in order to formulate their response to any complaint received. In this case the group will support councillors as best they can in helping them to respond to a complaint but will not enter into correspondence with the complainer except in what it considers to be exceptional circumstances.

4.0 Contacts for complaints (accurate at time of writing):

Call 999 or 101 if you witness a criminal act or if you or any other person is in danger.

Otherwise, use the following links or search the council's web site:

Contact Stockport Council: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/contact

Complain about ASB: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour

Dog Warden Service: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/dog-warden-service

Street Lighting: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/start/report-a-street-light-fault

Formal complaints: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/start/make-a-formal-complaint

Local Councillors by Ward:

http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0