Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director for Community Services and the Director of Sport, Culture and Parks

James Dymond, Parks Development Manager, presented the report of the Corporate Director for Community Services, and the Director of Sports, Culture and Parks to the Committee, highlighting the following points:

(a)  Through consultation with local people, three parks in Sherwood have been selected for significant improvements as the existing infrastructure on them is becoming tired and outdated: Pirate Park play area, Mansfield Road, Valley Road Park play area and Peggy’s Park play area, Edwards Lane.

(b)  Working with Groundwork Greater Nottingham, a bid has been submitted for £50,000 of external WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd) funding to improve the Pirate Park site, particularly the bank slide and wooden play equipment. A further £10,000 of Area Capital has been committed to the scheme and the Parks Service has agreed to pay the £5,500 third party funding. A decision on the external funding is expected in December 2014 and if successful, work will start on site in spring 2015.

(c)  In recent years, Valley Road Park has seen many improvements including a skatepark, outdoor gym, multi-use games area and Petanque courts. It is now proposed to install a new children’s play area on the site, near to the skate park. This will replace the very tired and out-dated play area further along Valley Road. £49,999 has been secured for the project by Groundwork Greater Nottingham, who also hold £18,000 of funding from the previous Valley Road projects. It is proposed to start works on site as soon as the ring-road works at the Hucknall Road roundabout are complete.

(d)  A bid for external funding from WREN funding for improvement works at Peggy's Park was submitted on 29th October and if successful, will mainly be used to fund works to improve the play equipment on site. This will include removal of existing equipment and surfacing, installing new playground equipment to cater for a wider age and ability range at more suitable locations with the park, and improving seating for the new play area locations with benches and picnic tables. A decision on the WREN bid will be made in April 2015. £50,000.00 of funding will also be provided by Nottingham City Homes towards these improvements.

Comments were provided by the Committee:

(e)  It is good to see these projects going forward, in particular the proposed Valley Road Park play area improvements. It has been a long running project and it is good to see its ongoing development. The Peggy's Park improvements have been driven by aspirations from the local community, and increased demand from the new housing nearby.

(f)  It is important to protect, grow, improve and support green spaces in the City. The improvement projects are a positive step.

(g)  There has been a lot of hard work put in from everyone in the Parks Team. Pirate Park is very old and due for a refresh. The new housing nearby could mean the current improvements are just the first phase, if section 106 funding can be secured.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  Thank James Dymond for the informative report, and note the proposals for park improvement projects in Sherwood.

(2)  Approve the contribution of £50,000 funding from Nottingham City Homes towards Peggy’s Park.