Park spring tidy

In an effort to tidy up the Park. Already there has been cutting back of veg. and the newly planted daffs are coming up.
Today I met with two guys from ‘ansa’ to draw up a ‘wish-list’.
1. Paint the door of the bowlers’ pavillion.
2. renew the damaged edge boards on the bowling green
3. Install new rubbish bins.
4. Remove the rubbish bin in the childrens’ area and remount it just outside the area.
5. Coat of paint for the benches.
6. Clean and re-wood stain the wooden handrail on the steps down from London Rd.
7. Repair the damaged rubber floor covering under the swings (and elsewhere if needed).
8. Raise the branches levels on some trees, so that anyone walking/running in the Park has clear sight lines all round. See 9 below.
9. No more cutting of greenery until after bird nesting period is over.
And a few more bits and pieces. Its not earth-shattering, but if it brightens up our environment somewhat?

Update.
Several trees have now been ‘lifted’ i.e. the lower branches removed, to open up their areas. Hopefully also no more empty bottles and cans thrown there.
The land around the horse carving has been tidied.
The overgrown grass, encroaching along the main paths has been removed.
The roots of the untidy and now removed bushes at the entrance from the park to the path down to C.H.Lane have been uprooted.
Some of the untidy overgrowth between park and AESG tennis courts has been removed.
Hopefully the works will continue for the rest of the week.
Feedback from the public (that’s you) has so far been favourable.
Now’s your chance, if you’re quick, to offer suggestions of your own.

The park would really benefit from some flowers being planted . The beds that exist are overgrown and dull.
The goal mouths need re levelling and returfing now it’s March so they are good for the Summer months
Would also be good if the porta loo near the post office that’s virtually redundant got moved into park for little uns (and big uns) to use

Hi Fiona,

1. the flower beds are on the agenda.
2. I tried the shifting of the loo from West St. to the park idea quite a while ago: the huge problem is the cost of running it. I was told back then that the loo is not owned by CEC, its leased at something like £25,0000-£30,000 p.a.As one of my colleagues remarked, given the occupation rate, that’s £12 per (choose your own word!).
3. I’ll mention the goal mouth thing to the ‘ansa’ Officers. The moving of the posts was done, for the very reason you quote, a year (2 years?) ago.

Hi Fiona,
to up-date you.
I heard today that the two goal mouths will be filled in and seeded before May 15th. Sorry to be late with the info. and I’ve no idea why May 15th, unless that’s the date of the May Fair.

Hi Duncan , thanks for update.
The May fair is on Saturday the 16th May so hope they cordon off the seeded area or it won’t stand a chance with the fair footfall!

Hi Fiona,

1. I’ve passed your question on to ‘ansa’ and I’ll let you know of ought from that.
2. Some time back, two of the Officers of the Allotment Soc’.s Committee offered to ‘take on’ the park’s flower beds. I liased with ‘ansa’ on that and they agreed that the two chaps could do that.
I sent an email to one of the two chaps a while ago asking if they were still intending to ‘do’ the flower beds but I’ve not had any reply.
In the meantime I’ve asked the ‘ansa’ guys to do what they can, at this time: they have done some works and the beds look a little better.

Hi Fiona,

Is it only thee and me?
The goal areas and other ‘depressions’ have been filled in, as of yesterday, with soil. The soil will be left awhile, to settle.Then either seeding or turf.

Hi Fiona,
I was told today that it will be seeding which willl be done (weather allowing) this week.

Following last year’s May Fair I have had several meetings with Doug Christie and his team from Ansa regarding sprucing up the park in time for the May Fair 2015.
They have been fantastically helpful and all I can say is a big THANKYOU SO MUCH to them all for all they have done.
The date of the Fair is Friday/Saturday 15th/16th May.

Hi Fiona,
been a bit busy with an election! Results out shortly.
I hope that the flower beds are more to your liking now?
The seeded areas are looking good? I can’t prophesy how the May Fair might affect them, but we shall see. Hope for a dry day?
Today the ‘ansa’ guys are at work putting new edge boards around some of the childrens’ play area. Every little improvement/repair helps eh?

Thanks for the update Duncan,
The park is looking a little ‘more loved’.
I hope that there will be continued investment of time and money in order to update ,renovate and maintain this valuable green space, as there is a lot of scope for improvement.

Hi All,
sad to have lost in the election, but such is the way with politics.
I shall no longer be ‘banging on’ about the park, so good luck to whoever takes on that task.
Its been fun!

You did a great job Duncan, lets hope the park stays as good as it is now.