What’s Happening In The Park
What\’s happening in the park?
Frequent users of the park will have noticed that work has started to refurbish and improve the facilities on offer.
To minimise cost and reduce disruption we are spreading this work over the next 2 years. These improvements include:
- installing a small outdoor gym funded through an £8000 grant from Tesco
- installing family picnic tables funded through a £1000 grant from Rachel Jenkins, our County Councillor
- replacing the safety bark and repainting the equipment in the play area
- removing the dangerous trees and overgrown vegetation
- clearing out the water courses and drainage ditches
- installing a Memorial Poppy Walk with benches to commemorate the end of WW1
- re-establishing the formal garden and planting a wild flower area
- installing improved benches, litter bins, signage and security
We are also very pleased to confirm that the Parish Council has succeeded in it’s efforts to get Severn Trent to rectify the damage that they caused to the Car Park during its use as a works compound in 2012. It was estimated that this damage exceeded £15,000 and this success will significantly reduce the pressure on future budgets and will, hopefully, result in a much improved parking area.
Anti-social behaviour – Unfortunately, we are still receiving reports of anti-social behaviour including some drug use in the park, especially in the evenings. In response the Parish Council has removed vegetation and improved sightlines into the park. This appears to have reduced incidents of anti-social behaviour however we recognise that, with the longer summer nights ahead, we must all remain vigilant.
The Parish Council has continued to discuss this problem with residents who live around the park, with the Police and with community groups and we are exploring options to resolve it. The Police are patrolling more frequently, within the limits of their reduced resources, and the Parish Council are exploring the feasibility of a limited CCTV system to cover the car park and other vulnerable areas. No decision on CCTV has been made and we will only do this following further consultation with local residents.
Meanwhile we are asking everybody in our community to help ensure our park remains a safe and pleasant place for our children and families. As such we need everybody to be vigilant and report any unusual or inappropriate behaviour or any suspicious vehicles to West Mercia Police by telephoning – 101 or E-mailing – hr.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk Thank you for your support in this matter.