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ANDREAS PARISH COMMISSIONERS 21st August 2023 PLANNING APPLICATION TO RE-SITE THE VILLAGE PLAY PARK – 23/00280/B The Commissioners are hoping to relocate Andreas village play park into the area known as the Millennium Garden, due to issues with the existing playpark area as previously documented. This site is included within the area known as the Sports field, all owned and maintained by the Local Authority and zoned for recreational purposes. Whilst no change of use need be sought the Authority recognises the need to gain permission for the intended re siting of the play park. As already stated, some of the existing play equipment is now over 30 years old and well past its best. The Local Authority will organise fund raising to purchase new equipment to be installed in the new site, and preliminary work on this has already started. The existing play equipment would be removed and scrapped and the new equipment will include all-inclusive items for disabled access. The garden area was extensively planted as a Millennium project but has since been reduced to an area of grass surrounded by overgrown shrubs and trees. Originally this was intended as an attractive area to sit with the surrounding landscaping but it has increasingly become an area where youngsters gather, vandalise any seating, and often cause a general nuisance, with the planted shrubbery giving cover from passing traffic, or people on the sports field. There is also costly maintenance involved for this small area which currently serves little purpose for the village.
The Commissioners intend retain the leylandii hedge bordering the east side of the site (photo leylandii hedge); the sod bank hedge to the southern boundary of the site (photo roadside sod hedge) and the shrub hedgerow partly bordering the westside entrance to the site (photo shrub hedge entrance to sports field). There are also 10 ornamental mature trees and shrubs within the site which would be retained. Revised visuals attached give an overview of the intended layout (Visuals - Andreas Parish Commissioners view 1 and view 2).
The Commissioners wish to remove the overgrown shrubbery within the site to improve visibility and safety. The attached photographs show shrubs planted within these boundary hedges of the site which are overgrown with brambles and weed. Some of these bushes have extremely sharp leaves and would cause injury if anyone should fall into them. (Photo - SW corner overgrown shrubs & brambles) & (Photo - west corner detail). Unfortunately, it is very difficult to show the full extent of the overgrowth in photos and the nature of the growth but this is what the Authority wish to remove. The reasons being
An industry standard metal playground fence would be installed around the play equipment with 2 self-closing access gates. The fencing will be steel as recommended for use for play park areas, and this particular type of fencing has already been installed at the car park area of the Sports field so the same style/colour would be used to match this.
A report from Assistant Tree Officer/ DEFA states that there are 2 sycamore trees which could be removed from the site boundary with the road way (under licence), and these be replaced with birch or rowan within the area upon completion. (as identified in previous documents)
Play Park planners highly recommend that sites have clear 360 vision to provide safe play areas for children and this proposal will allow for this. The proposed play park area will, in effect, revert to form part of the sports field (which this site was previously), with the recommended steel fencing in place surrounding the play equipment. As stated before, the proposed equipment includes all-inclusive items and the removal of the shrubs and overgrowth will create a natural flow from the Sports field to the play park for children and parents allowing for easy access, including disabled.
The 10 foot high leylandii hedge will remain between the nearest residence (The former Police House) and the gas tanks to provide privacy and, to some extent, a sound barrier; the 3 foot high (approx.) sod hedge along the roadside will maintain the continuous green corridor; as will the bush hedging at one of the entrances to the site (west side) The trees/shrubs to be retained are ornamental and now mature so are unlikely to grow and dominate the park, as is the over-riding problem with the existing play park. All the vegetation being retained can be easily maintained which is also an important consideration to ensure the safety of the site.
Finally, as pointed out in previous statements from the Commissioners, there is already approval in place for a further 31 houses in the village and a condition of this scheme requires suitable recreational facilities for all children. The Commissioners are very aware that the current facilities (which have no provision for disabilities) are inadequate and are keen to obtain permission for this project in order to commence work.
Additional photo attachments are as listed:-
Maureen Callow Clerk - Andreas Parish Commissioners
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