Despite the successes achieved by supporters of the Gunton Community Park over the last twelve months, there were fewer residents than expected at Tuesday evening's annual general meeting held at Gunton Baptist Church.

Despite the successes achieved by supporters of the Gunton Community Park over the last twelve months, there were fewer residents than expected at Tuesday evening's annual general meeting held at Gunton Baptist Church. The park's CCTV is now fully working and the multiuse games area is at present under construction - but where were the people supporting the Friends of Gunton Community Park? The Friends are at present in need of helpers and are also seeking volunteers to act as the group's secretary and also to take up the position of the park's treasurer. Some community representatives were at hand at the meeting, however, as were the estate's community police support officers, but matters were not helped with the absence of the park's Waveney District Council representative, Stuart Halsey. Despite the small turnout, which regretfully also hampered the election of officers for the coming year, chair Colin Napper was in a positive mood, reflecting over the work done over the last five years and notably over the last year. The Friends can feel proud of their achievements on the park, he said, which initially stemmed from the visioning day in 2003 called by residents to revitalise what was then a neglected playing field at the rear of Montgomery Avenue. Despite delays, the dream was close to fulfilment. The most recent, the CCTV camera's, were finally installed early this year, three new bins have also been put in, and with the older children in mind, the multiuse games area should be finished in the next few weeks.

Gunton Community Park sits on an historic site, and with the aid of the Green Light Trust, and working with local schools and nearby residents, last November saw a tree planting session in the park's woodland area, followed by wild flower planting earlier this year. A proposed community 'rake-in' will be held later this year, possibly in August., but as the third and final phase of the construction of the park, the peace garden, approaches, the worry is that although Gunton Community Park is a flagship project developed by the community for the community and supported by the Gunton Partnership, Waveney District Council, Suffolk County Council, Waveney Norse, as well as a multitude of other organisations, the lack of volunteers to take up they mantel to ensure the park's future is worrying. For further information about the Friends of Gunton Community Park, contact chair Colin Napper, on 01502 537798, Tuesdays to Fridays, or contact Waveney District Council's Community Cohesion team on 01502 523354.