USERS of a Uttoxeter park are being encouraged to get involved with a group tasked with helping to shape the future of a ‘tremendous recreational asset’.
The Friends of Bramshall Park community group held its first meeting this summer where it formulised what challenges the park faces in the coming years and what improvements it would like to see made.
Four issues were identified as of importance to residents. These were:
Finding a long-term drainage solution to the flooding of low-lying ground near the Hockley Road entrance and a review of tree planting in the park;
Increased provision of children’s play apparatus for the age range 7-13;
Investigate the options of extra equipment in the children’s play area near the Hockley Road entrance, with apparatus suitable for all age groups;
Clearance of silt build up in the children’s paddling pool within Picknalls Brook ;
Create pathway to give access to the park areas and state-owned land between Oldfields and Picknalls schools (much safer walk to school for many school children).
Group member Peter Coffin told the Advertiser how the park has been improved in recent years and how important ‘friends’ groups can be to keeping such facilities as Bramshall Park ‘local treasures’.
He said: “In recent years Bramshall Park has attracted nearly £250,000 of funding that has enhanced the park.
“These enhancements have included improvements to the tennis courts, play areas, the addition of a teen shelter and a modern skateboard facility.
“All residents who use Bramshall Park are now being invited to join the Friends of Bramshall Park group to provide direct feedback to the borough council on all aspects of how to improve this popular, local treasure.
“Friends of groups bring together park users to discuss and resolve problems on their local parks.
“Routine problems can include littering, dog fouling, anti-social behaviour and any other concerns related to the park.
“However, for Bramshall Park there are still multiple challenges ahead and the Friends of Bramshall Park community group can help shape the response and answers to these challenges.” Mr Coffin also talked of the lessons that can be learned from the project which saw a skate park built there in 2010.
He said: “The skate park improvement project demonstrated the value of a positive, direct working relationship between East Staffordshire Borough Council and local residents.
“Without the involvement of skate park users in the project, Uttoxeter would not now possess the current state-of-the-art facility.” The Friends of Bramshall Park are asking all park users who wish to express their views on any issue affecting Bramshall Park to put those comments in an email and send it to friendsofbramshallpark@ uttoxeter.com.
Anyone who wishes to put their name down as a Friend of Bramshall Park should say so in their email.
