Dear All
Please find below the Notes taken from the discussions held at The Academy. If you have any comments or wish to join the sub-committee then please get in touch :
CPAAG AGM: Cathnor Park Improvement Discussion / Ideas
Issues raised at meeting on 8th October
- Introduce an Adventure Playground- adult supervision/ safe environment for PLAY
- Need for separation between children and dogs in park
- Dog fouling
- Aggressive dogs
- Conflict with play areas
- Make use of western end of the park (currently outside the fencing)
- Expand children’s play area – introduce new climbing frame
- More (higher?) fencing to provide ‘dog compound’ in south-east end of park
- Playing in the “Bowl” area
- Difficult to play football
- Often muddy/ poorly drained
- Concern with Drug Users/ drug debris. This in an immediate issue that needs to be addressed now as well as planned for in any new scheme.
- CCTV / face monitoring (controversial)
- Wardens / Patrols (expensive)
- Security Issues
- Potential for locking up park at night should be considered
- Feels unsafe at night and sometimes during the day
- Poor lighting – deters visitors
- No CCTV at present- Council will need detailed survey and recommended locations if CPAAG are proposing installation cameras
- Regular incidents – drug trading/ young kids – Police can only warn perpetrators unless adequate / corroborated evidence of criminal activity
- Maintenance
- Landscape ongoing pruning / clearing
- Play structures (especially climbing frame) are in poor condition
- Play surfaces (especially floor surface) needs constant monitoring and maintenance – weeds under structures
- Regular clearing out of bushes and bins required
- Needs more community involvement
- Signage and lighting needs checking and repair
- Protection of Nature
- Concern for plants and birds
- Needs survey of existing plants and trees (size/ type/ condition)
- Protect during nesting season
- Appropriate pruning and grass cutting
- Poor environment within the park
- No colour in the park- unattractive areas within park
- Poor design generally, with deep vegetation that provides hidden areas and excessive maintenance
- Generally Unloved, especially in winter, although well used by dog owners - (increase in dogs in the area since Covid)
- Under used by families/ need more activities and more passive security
- Introduce adult fitness equipment
- Introduce more events (Concerts/ Films/ Fetes)
- Provide small café?
- Improve lighting
- Legal and communication considerations
- Check for any planning / legal covenants
- Liaise with Police and Council
- Liaise with Schools and Community/ Play organisations
- Maintenance Contractor’s poor performance to be addressed.
- Establish action group / Sub- Committee
- Establish early meeting to set up brief and actions
- Develop initial short- and long-term plan
- Ultimately report back with proposal by next AGM
- Undertake early action on security and maintenance improvements
- Investigate other park improvement projects in area
- Identify specialists who can input accordingly subject to cost
- Establish budget and fund-raising approaches.
