Sutton Vesey Ward Site Assessments for New Play Area Provision
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JANUARY 2017 SUTTON VESEY WARD SITE ASSESSMENTS FOR NEW PLAY AREA PROVISION BOLDMERE GATE OPTION 1 MOSSY BANK OPTION 2 BOLDMERE GATE OPTION 1 MOSSY BANK OPTION 2 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Scope of report 3. Site Assessment and Analysis for Boldmere Gate 4. Site Assessment and Analysis for Mossy Bank 5. Photographic record 6. Summary 1. Introduction On 20th December 2016 Bob Churn, of Birmingham City Council’s Landscape Practcie Group, gave a presentation to the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council Amenities Committee on outlining the processes and considerations necessary to commission and build a new play area on land held within the Parks and nature Conservation portfolio. This covered the principals of design, consultation, programming, procurement, necessary approvals, costings, future maintenance obligations and health and safety liabilities. Members of the Amenities Committee were shown three presentation sheets covering traditional play areas, natural play and outdoor gym areas. These illustrated the options available and a methodology for consulting with residents and in particular children. It was agreed that the Amenities Committee should consider first the best site to construct the play area before consulting publicly on the style and content. To this end The Landscape Practice Group was asked to visit two sites in Vesey Ward that had been suggested as suitable for a play area development and report to the next Amenities Committee with a shoprt paper outlining the pros and cons of each site. The two sites identified were Boldmere Gate and Mossy Bank. 2. Scope of the report The Amenities Committee has asked for an assessment of each site which will demonstrate the benefits and disadvantages of constructing a new play area in the location. The analysis will look at various aspects of the project from accessibility, topography, current land use, known local issues, planning restrictions, site safety, potential risk for vandalism or anti‐ social behaviour, statutory designations. The report will not consider any technical design issues, comparative costs or detailed design options as these would be subject to fee charges which should ideally only be incurred once the preferred site has been settled on. 3. Site Assessment and Analysis for Boldmere Gate, Sutton Park i) Site Description: Boldmere Gate is approached from Stonehouse Road approximately 1 mile from the corner of Boldmere Road and Station Road. The site is accessed via a cattle grid just beyond the Boldmere Lodge and the Miller and Carter restaurant car‐park entrance. The land to the south of Stonehouse Road is made up of an area of unimproved grassland and a crushed stone car‐park enclosed with post and rail fencing. The car‐park extension is occasionally used as a site for a fun fair. ii) Advantages of site for use as a play area: Ease of access via Stonehouse Road Adjacent car‐park for people use A relatively flat site free from trees Would suit a variety of play area types including adventure play, natural; play and outdoor gym equipment Would provide an additional attraction to Sutton Park within 1 mile’s walking distance of Boldmere High Street Sufficient room for construction work and contractor’s compound Reasonable distance from the lakeside Would complement any proposed attraction nearby such as a café hub. iii) Disadvantages of site for use as a play area: Sited away from the main residential area of Boldmere May require a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights to at the junction of Stonehouse Road and Monmouth Drive. Would require an application to Natural England for approval as the site is located within the National Nature Reserve and could encroach an area of umimproved grassland. (Note that site has been used as a fairground) May require an archaeological investigation as the land is adjacent a Scheduled Ancient Monument i.e. the medieval deer park Would attract visitors from distance rather than being just a local community facility iv) Budget estimate: £250,000‐£300,000 excluding revenue consequences 4. Site Assessment and Analysis for Mossy Bank POS i) Site Description: Mossy Bank is approached by car from two directions namely Cofield Road from the east and Warden Road from the south. The site is also accessible via a pedestrian alleyway between 67 and 69 Antrobus Road.The land lies to the west of Boldmere Junior and Infant School and is made up of an area of grassland rising from the bend in the road where Cofield Road and Warden Road meet, a small copse of treeson the southern boundary and thick hedgerow between the open space and the rear gardens of Fernwood Road properties. There is a flatter area sutable for informal ball games towards the north‐west of the site. ii) Advantages of site for use as a play area: The site is located within half a mile of Boldmere High Street The site is accessible to pedestrians from the main residential area of Boldmere and would not require most people to drive to it. There is a footpath adjacent to the school boundary fence which has a gentle gradient to give reasonable access for push chairs upto the flatter area on the top. The site is a vacant site with a flat area free from trees The site is adjacent to Boldmere Junior and Infants School and therefore convenient for children to use at the end of the school day The site would suit both a traditional play area with elements of natural play associated with the copse of trees There are no statutory restrictions on the site other than the requirement for Planning Permission. iii) Disadvantages of site for use as a play area: The site is not significantly overlooked in terms of natural surveillance and only if the play area is sited adjacent to the road , which is the most difficult part of the site to develop being on a low bank. There is no parking and so this could generate congestion and disturbance to local residents. The access to the site is on the bend of the road where Cofield Road and Warden road meet which could be a hazard for children playing in the area so a pedestrian guard rail would likely be required to stop children running into the road. The flat area is partially out of view from the road and properties back onto the POS so there is an increased risk of vandalism and anti‐social behaviour. The pedestrian alleyway from Antrobus Road is narrow and enclosed by high fences making this approach to the play area site unsafe. The accessibility for a contractor to deliver material and equipment is quite restricted due to the bank of trees and low trip‐rail but can be worked round The site is not well known by those living outside the immediate vicinity of the site. v) Budget estimate: £110,000 excluding revenue consequences 5. Photographic record Boldmere Gate: Mossy Bank: 6. Summary From an initial walkabout at both Boldmere Gate and Mossy Bank, both sites have potential for the construction of a children’s play area, but each has their own obstacles to overcome. Boldmere Gate is by far the most accessible for its location, but is not in the heart of the community, whereas Mossy Bank is tucked away in a residential street and not readily visible to passers by. The decision will depend on the type and style of play area that the community wants, but in either case will be a great asset in an area that is currently lacking in a suitable facility for children. Should the finance, both capital and revenue, be available for a more aspirational adventure play area that would attract visitors to Boldmere then Boldmere Gate is the solution; if however the immediate desire is to provide an accessible junior and toddler play area for local children and families then Mossy Bank, with careful design to mitigate the lack of natural surveillance and parking would be a satisfactory option. Bob Churn Head of Landscape and Development The Landscape Practice Group Birmingham City Council PO Box 16937 1 Lancaster Circus (3rd Floor, Zone 15) Queensway, Birmingham B4 7DJ T 0121 303 3536 M 07824 694 324 E [email protected] .