Knowsley Council has been made aware of claims circulating on social media regarding the closure of the café in Mill Dam Park. There are numerous statements shared as ‘facts’ which are both misleading and concerning for the local community. Here is the full picture and response to some of the allegations made online:
CLAIM: Knowsley Council has closed the café and toilets
FACT: It was not the decision of the council to close the building. The council was notified by the operator – Espositios – that they have had to temporarily close due to unforeseen and unavoidable staffing issues.
The rest of the park is NOT impacted by this temporary closure.
CLAIM: “Mill Dam Park is finished”
FACT: Mill Dam Park is owned, managed and maintained by Knowsley Council for the wider benefit of the community. The temporary closure of the café does not prevent wider use of the park or put its future use in doubt.
Access to the children’s playground, lake with angling facilities, green gym, wildflower, wetland and woodland habitats are unaffected.
Knowsley Council will continue to engage with the Friends of Mill Dam Group and wider community on opportunities for the long-term development of the park.
CLAIM: “No toilets means no Halloween celebration”
FACT: Access to public toilets is not an essential requirement when planning or delivering events. However, for larger and longer events, event organisers often use portable temporary toilets. There is no reason why – subject to all health and safety conditions being fulfilled – that a Halloween event could not take place.
Until very recently, Knowsley Council has been working to support the Friends Group in its application to KEVSAG (Knowsley Events and Venues Safety Advisory Group) to independently run the Halloween event this year. The Friends Group has submitted an initial application but has been asked to provide some additional information – which at the time of writing has not been received.
The vast majority of Knowsley’s parks do not have public toilet facilities but this does not prevent events and activities taking place.
An event aimed at families and young children, organised by Knowsley Council, is happening in Mill Dam Park on Saturday 1 November as part of Knowsley’s Autumn activities. Whilst we very much hope the Café will have reopened by then, this event can go ahead regardless.
CLAIM: “Funding for community activities was being used privately by staff, friends and family.”
This is not true and is a completely unfounded claim.
If anyone has any evidence to support this allegation, they are urged to provide that to the council at their earliest opportunity. Knowsley Council takes incredibly seriously any suggestion of misuse of public funds.
Background
Mill Dam Park, Kirkby is one of Knowsley’s four borough parks, with facilities including a children’s playground, lake with angling facilities, green gym, wildflower, wetland and woodland habitats and café facilities.
In 2016 the Mill Dam Stakeholder Group was formed to bring together park users to develop a vision for the site – which included a building in poor condition at the end of its life (a former Children’s Centre). This Group consisted of a range of organisations, including Pedal Away, the Kirkby walking group, Mill Dam Angling Association, the Kirkby Sea Cadets together with local residents and the Ward Councillors.
In May 2017, the Council wrote to 400 households in the local area inviting people to attend a number of consultation drop-in sessions. At these sessions, park users were asked their views on what was most important to them and their aspirations for the park in the future. The three key priorities that emerged from these consultations were: –
- The desire for a welcoming park and accessible building with a café and toilets
- Improving the play space and providing more interest and excitement for Children
- New and improved footpaths across the park.
A masterplan and funding strategy for the park was created and in 2018, funding and investment was secured. This included a grant from the Veolia Environmental Trust in September 2017 for £72,000 to install a new modular energy efficient building and undertake the associated landscape works around this building. Further funding (£175,000) was allocated by the Council via Section 106 Developer Contributions and (£25,000) from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to install and fit out the building, demolish the former structure on site and create new pathways and associated works.
In 2019, in line with the community consultation, the tender process for a Food and Drink Concession at Mill Dam Park was undertaken based on the following requirements to provide:
- Café space with kitchen and store
- Inside Café seating space
- Toilets including DDA toilet
- Community meeting space which would be available for use by Café
- Store for community space and Café
- Office space and store.
In February 2020, the lease was issued to Espositos – an organisation with experience of running 5* hygiene rated catering outlets within public parks and creating community hubs within green spaces.
In 2021, following challenges with COVID, Espositos Café was opened to the public in Mill Dam Park.
In 2022, Knowsley Council supported reintroducing the Mill Dam Stakeholder group with the long-term aspiration of building this group to become a Friends of the park to support, develop and grow the activity and engagement programme, as well as to engage in the future developments on the park in line with Knowsley Council’s Green Space Action Plan.
In July 2023, the group adopted a constitution to be recognised as the ‘Friends of Mill Dam (Milly)’ in line with Knowsley Council’s Green Space Volunteering and joining over 50 Friends and Volunteer groups across Knowsley. The group opened a bank account and were supported by Knowsley Council’s Environmental Sustainability Service to deliver authorised community activities, source and secure funding to invest into these activities and the future developments of the park and to support other partners to deliver from the site.
In October 2022, the Friends group delivered their first major event for Halloween, this was then delivered again in 2023 and 2024 with support from Knowsley Council with investment to ensure the event was delivered safely from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for Children’s and Youth Diversionary Activity.
Espositos closed from November 2024 reopening in February 2025 after a refurbishment.
Where do I go for more information?
For more information on Knowsley’s Parks and Green spaces, visit: Parks and green spaces | Knowsley Council.
For more information on Knowsley’s Green Space Action Plan, please visit: Green space action plan | Knowsley Council.
For more information on the KEVSAG process, please visit: Organising public events | Knowsley Council.
Remember: Online rumours can spread easily so think before you share.