BOROUGH OF POOLE

NEWTOWN AND PARKSTONE Area Committee

WEDNESDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2008

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES

IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKSTONE PARK

1 / Purpose of Report
1.1 / To inform and receive feedback from Area Committee on the proposals to carry out a range of enhancements to Parkstone Park, Ashley Cross.
2 / Introduction
2.1 / Parkstone Park is the only formal open space in Parkstone Ward and was opened by the Prince of Wales on the same day as Poole Park, 17th January 1890. Many of the original features have been lost or altered over the years:
  • Park railings were removed during the Second World War to provide metal for the defence programme
  • Tree and shrub planting has been unplanned in recent times and is looking both tired and haphazard
  • The ornamental fountain was replaced with a utilitarian alternative following vehicular damage in 1979.

2.2 / Leisure Services recognise both the pressures on the park and the value of the park as an open space for the local community. There is currently a public consultation underway on the need to enhance the park for the public benefit and this report forms part of this consultation.
3 / Information
3.1 / £50,000 has already been allocated to improvements to Parkstone Park from Planning Obligations in financial year 2003-2004. Some of this has been used to install new benches and lighting. The benches are already in place and the lighting improvements should be completed by the middle of February.
3.2 / Leisure Services have begun a public consultation, continuing on from an early ‘test the water’ exercise in 2005. Officers have met the organisers of community events in the park, church representatives and held a drop-in session at Le Bateau for local traders and residents. A coffee morning is planned at Homelake House.
3.3 / Initially Leisure Services proposed the following items for discussion which it was felt would enhance the park, retain its character and improve its use by the community:
  • install traditional park railings to the 120m Commercial Road frontage
  • create a new entrance opposite the Commercial Road pedestrian crossing
  • provide some form of community performance space, perhaps a traditional bandstand or a contemporary structure
  • provide a community noticeboard
  • Improve the provision of litter bins within the park
  • create an area for pétanque (boules)
  • replace the existing fountain with a design befitting a historic park
  • resurface the existing paths using a resin bonded gravel
  • carry out new landscaping as appropriate.

3.4 / Following the consultation the list has been prioritised based on public comments:
  • create a new entrance opposite the Commercial Road pedestrian crossing and the crossing opposite Homelake House;
  • resurface the existing paths using a resin bonded gravel;
  • replace the existing fountain with a design befitting a historic park;
  • install traditional park railings to the 120m Commercial Road frontage (many other requests for railings along the Station Road frontage, no support for railings on the Church Road frontage);
  • provide some form of surfaced community performance space;
  • create an area for pétanque (boules)
  • provide a community noticeboard.
There was no support for a traditional bandstand or contemporary structure, or for major landscaping works beyond some improvements to the shrubbery.
3.5 / Other ideas put forward include some children’s play, not play equipment in a formal play area but low impact items around the park; outdoor table tennis/outdoor chess; a regular Farmers Market (to be explored by others) and use of the performance space and railings for art exhibitions.
3.6 / Concerns put forward include over-improving the park thus spoiling its open aspect and attracting antisocial behaviour, which was reported to have reduced over the last 18 months.
3.7 / The plan is to undertake a topographic survey of the park and then instruct a Landscape Architect to prepare sketches of the improvements described in paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 above. These will be used both for internal consultation and be put on display in the Library for further comment.
3.8 / Leisure Services anticipate that this process will take until the summer and then there will be a bid for funds from Planning Obligations. The delivery timescale will be based on priorities and workload.
4 / Conclusion
4.1 / Parkstone Park is well loved and well used as a community park and there is an appreciation of its uniqueness in Poole. There is good support for enhancing the park by installing facilities through the use of Planning obligations funds.
4.2 / Feedback from this Area Committee meeting will be reported to a future Planning Obligations Sub Group.

CLIVE SMITH

HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES

Contact Officers:

Richard Nicholson Technical and Development Team Leader (01202) 261347

Clare Freeman, Open Spaces Manager (01202) 261377

Background Papers:

None

Version 1 23rd January 2008 Page 1