Agenda item

Kieron Roberts reported ona Play Strategy Review, and highlighted that following the review Burnley would still have  ahigh ratio of play areas for its population.

Members made the following points;

-what was the disability provision?

Kieron indicated that Disabled Facilities Grant were being used to make play provision more inclusive at existing play areas

-regarding Kiddrow Lane how long would the Private Management Company (PMC) arrangements continue for?

Kieron confirmed the involvement of the PMC but was unsure of the timescale

-Ward locations for Kiddrow Lane, Kibble Bank, and Healey Wood

 should be checked, and if any play area was on a border consideration be given to involving all relevant Ward Members

-regarding Lancaster Drive and Melville Avenue, why have they been overlooked

Kieron would get back to the Member asking the question

-regrading pump tracks and wheeled sports collaboration with Hapton Parish Council (HPC) was highlighted

Kieron confirmed meetings with HPC and that there was ongoing work on a scheme with an old pump track identified

-what is the position with Hapton Park football club and 50k funding promised?

Kieron would get back to the Member asking the question

-regarding Clifton Street Park residents had been assured that work would be done before the College work started, so residents wanted an update on start and completion timescales over the next few years

Kieron indicated the work on the park would be done at the first stage of the projects and at the same time regarding any parks involved

-regarding Partidge Hill safety concerns were raised 

-regarding a previous play area at Lakeland Way which was moved about 10 years ago but was covenanted to be a play area, could this be reinstated?

-the merger of Jessies Park and Piccadilly Park was supported, but there was a sense of local entitlement currently reflecting in actual hostility to new users especially disabled children who needed to feel safe

-if play areas were closed and concerted over what would happen to those areas and would this be reflected in the Local Plan? 

Kieron stated that landscaping would be carried out, such as recently a Peace Garden being established

-regarding Memorial Park would the Greenway Bridge affect this?

Kieron stated it would not affect current schemes as they had funding in place and would only potentially affect a future Youth Shelter although work on this by SUSTRANS was already planned in the next few months

-regarding Pop up or Pocket parks in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme how was this funded regarding resources needed?

Kieron stated this was funded by the Government using 25k and some local capital altogether 41k in total, with a friends of Stoneyholme Gardens set up and an outdoor gym for Asian females

-the mix of doorstep parks and mixing with others further way, subject to the 800 metre distance, was highlighted especially the concern of parents wanting to keep local parks separate such as Jessies Park and Piccadilly Park for safety reasons e.g. alcohol consumption 

-the geographical position of children in the Borough may help the appropriate provision of play areas

IT WAS AGREED

That the report be noted