CHAIRPERSON:

So next on the agenda is ‘Proposals for improvements to the recreation ground’. Councillor Thornton again.

COUNCILLOR THORNTON:

Well, since we managed to extend the recreation ground, we’ve spent some time talking to local people about how it could be made a more attractive and useful space. If you have a look at the map up on the screen, you can see the river up in the north, and the Community Hall near the entrance from the road. At present, cars can park between the Community Hall and that line of trees to the east, but this is quite dangerous for pedestrians so we’re suggesting a new car park on the opposite side of the Community Hall, right next to it. We also have a new location for the cricket pitch. As we’ve now purchased additional space to the east of the recreation ground, beyond the trees, we plan to move it away from its current location, which is rather near the road, into this new area beyond the line of trees. This means there’s less danger of stray balls hitting cars or pedestrians.

We’ve got plans for a children’s playground which will be accessible by a footpath from the Community Hall and will be alongside the river. We’d originally thought of having it close to the road, but we think this will be a more attractive location.

The skateboard ramp is very popular with both younger and older children – we had considered moving this up towards the river, but in the end we decided to have it in the southeast corner near the road. The pavilion is very well used at present by both football players and cricketers. It will stay where it is now – to the left of the line of trees and near to the river – handy for both the football and cricket pitches. And finally, we’ll be getting a new notice board for local information, and that will be directly on people’s right as they go from the road into the recreation ground.