Friends of Calthorpe Park
CALTHORPE
PARK
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2013–2018
Calthorpe Park Development Plan Adopted at RLA on 17 July 2013 Calthorpe Park Development Plan 10 July 2013
Contents PART 1 – MANAGEMENT AND FACILITIES 1. Introduction 2. Site Description and Information Base 2.1 Name of site 2.2 Location 2.3 Park users 2.4 Grid reference 2.5 Area 2.6 Byelaws 2.7 Land ownership of Calthorpe Park
3. History of the site 3.1 Lady Calthorpe’s Deed of Gift and Covenant 3.2 Fleet Cricket Club 3.3 Fleet Town Football Club 3.4 Football training 3.5 Odiham District Scouts
4. Features of the site 4.1 Existing sporting provision 4.1.1 Football pitches 4.1.2 Tennis courts 4.1.3 Sports pavilion 4.1.4 Other users of the Park 4.2 Swan structure 4.3 Jubilee wood 4.4 Cycle route
5. Annual events
6. Current management practices
7. Management issues 7.1 User requirements 7.2 Conflicts between interest groups 7.3 Car parking 7.4 Vandalism
8. SWOT analysis
9. Action plan on general issues for Calthorpe Park
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9.1 Vision and Objectives
9.2 Community involvement 9.2.1 Action days
9.3 Utilising the Park 9.3.1 CCTV 9.3.2 Multi-User Games Area 9.3.3 Wildflower Meadow 9.3.4 Children’s Play Area 9.3.5 Resurface playing fields 9.3.6 Manage the woodland 9.3.7 Outdoor Table Tennis Tables 9.3.8 Wet field adjoining Merivale 9.3.9 Adult Fitness Equipment 9.3.10 Develop an Orienteering Course in the Park 9.3.11 Upgrade Jubilee Garden 9.3.12 Sensory garden 9.3.13 Additional Parking 9.3.14 New Park Pavilion
9.4 A Welcoming Place 9.4.1 Increase Car Parking 9.4.2 Upgrade the pavilion 9.4.3 Signage
9.5 Health and Safety/security 9.5.1 Install CCTV in the Park
9.6 Maintenance of Equipment, Buildings and Landscape 9.6.1 Annual maintenance 9.6.2 Woodland management
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PART 2 ECOLOGY AND WILDLIFE
Calthorpe Park - Key Objectives and Areas of Operation
Summary of Management Plan
10. Environmental Information 10.1 Physical 10.2 Biological 10.3 Cultural
11. Evaluation 11.1 Size 11.2 Diversity 11.3 Naturalness 11.4 Rarity 11.5 Fragility 11.6 Typicalness 11.7 Recorded History 11.8 Position in Ecological Unit 11.9 Potential Value 11.10 Intrinsic Appeal 3.11 Other Criteria 11.12 Identification/Confirmation of Important Features 11.13 Operations likely to damage special features and interests 11.14 Main factors influencing the management of the site 11.15 Land of conservation or strategic importance
12. Management Policies 12.1 List of policies 12.2 Rationale
13. Management Prescriptions and Operations 13.1 Mature Trees 13.2 Boundaries 13.3 Improved Grassland 13.4 Ditches 13.5 Scrub 13.6 Ponds 13.7 Bare Ground 13.8 Visitors/Interpretation/Education 13.9 Estate and Equipment
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13.10 Public Relations and Administration 13.11 Research/Survey/Monitoring
14. T en-Year Work Programme - Summary
15. Appendices Appendix 1 Map of the area Appendix 2 Lady Calthorpe’s Deed of Gift Appendix 3 Fleet Town Council policy on major events in Fleet Parks Appendix 4 Checklist for the Park Appendix 5 Species Lists Appendix 6 Schedule of Development Projects
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Part 1 General Management Issues
1. Introduction This development plan is a document which sets out the current situation of Calthorpe Park, together with the ambitions and expectations for its future
This is the first development plan written for Calthorpe Park and will provide a route map for both users and custodians of the park to help them take decisions on its maintenance, use and development. The plan looks to define a vision for Calthorpe Park and considers objectives that could be achievable over a 5 year timeframe.
The plan also looks at wider issues that affect the Park, including policy and legal issues, as well as socio-economic factors. The plan goes on to describe how Calthorpe Park and the work that is proposed to be carried out there will be promoted and evaluated. It consists of two parts: Part 1 is concerned with general management of the area and user facilities; Part 2 is concerned with ecology and wildlife issues.
This plan has been developed jointly by the Friends of Calthorpe Park and Fleet Town Council, in consultation with key stakeholders of Calthorpe Park, such as the users identified in section 2.3. This hopefully ensures that it fulfils the needs of the community which it serves.
The core of this development plan is the proposed development project opportunities that will move the facilities and ecology towards our 2018 vision. These are described in section 9 of this document and in tabular form with potential funding sources and timelines in Appendix 6. The opening of the new cycleway through the park is not included as this will have been completed and opened by September 2013.
Items that have been established as priority items (or already being actioned) for progress in 2013/2014 are
Installation of CCTV to protect facilities and park users Amendment of FTC Civic Events Policy to protect park environment Planning and planting of Wildflower Meadow with seating Provision of MUGA facility in Tennis Court 3 Invasive plant removal in wooded areas and SINC planning
2. Site Description and Information Base 2.1 Name of site: Calthorpe Park
2.2 Location: Calthorpe Park is an area of 34.368 acres (13.909 hectares) situated about a quarter of a mile west of the Oatsheaf crossroads at the centre of Fleet, Hampshire (see Figure 1). It is surrounded by residential areas, with Tavistock Road to the north, Lea Wood Road and Stanton Drive to the south, Merivale to the west and Reading Road North to the east.
Figure 2 shows a more detailed map of the central area of the park, excluding most of the cricket ground to the east and the western end that borders on Merivale.
County Council: Hampshire County Council District Council: Hart District Council Parish Council: Fleet Town
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Calthorpe Park School Oatsheaf crossroad s
Tavistock Primary School
All Saints Junior School .
Figure 1 Location of Calthorpe Park to the west of the Oatsheaf crossroads Fleet, Hampshire (courtesy Ordnance Survey)
Grid reference: The park lies between grid references SU 47991537, SU 48031535 and SU 48061539
OS Explorer: 1:25 000 Sheets: 145 Guildford and Farnham and 144 Basingstoke OS Landranger: 1:50 000 Sheets: 186 Aldershot and Guildford
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Figure 2 Map of Calthorpe Park Area
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2.3 Land ownership of Calthorpe Park The site of Calthorpe Park is owned by Fleet Town Council. The boundaries surrounding Calthorpe Park are owned by Hart District Council. Until 1946 the area that is now Calthorpe Park formed part of the Calthorpe Estate, managed from Elvetham.
Way-leaves: There are no way-leaves on the site
Management agreements: Leases and site management responsibilities have been agreed with Fleet Town Football Club, Fleet Cricket Club and the Scouts, Odiham Division.
Land/Rights of Way let by Fleet Town Council: There are no land or rights of way let to other parties
Site definition and boundaries: See Appendix 1
2.4 Legal and other constraints and permissions Statutory and planning designations: The site has no statutory designation and falls into the Hart District Council’s Local Plan Area.
Rights of Way: There are no definitive rights of way recorded on Ordnance Survey mapping associated with the site.
Byelaws: There are current byelaws in force on this land from Hart District Council.
Recreation and car parking: There are a number of access points to the site, mainly related to movement thorough the park between the local schools, housing and the town centre. The main entrance is off Reading Road North, with an alternative large vehicle access via Crookham Road adjacent to the Football Club. A formal cycle path connecting Merivale and Reading Road North utilising the edge of the northern boundary is scheduled for completion in 2013, as part of scheme PC3 of the Fleet Town Access Plan, Cycle Route Hart Leisure to Fleet Town Centre.
2.5 Main fixed assets Main buildings: Fleet Cricket Club has a pavilion building for equipment storage, changing and facilities on match days. It also has a garage used for maintenance equipment. Fleet Town Football Club has stands and ancillary buildings for match days and pitch maintenance. The Scouts Odiham Division has a building for use as headquarters to two groups of the Odiham District Scouts; the 22nd Fleet Scout Group and the 26th Fleet Sea Scout Group.
Other facilities: There is a Fleet Town Council pavilion and garage with toilets on site, which is used regularly by Fleet Town Colts Football Club during the football season. It is also used by Fleet Town Council for site maintenance, equipment storage, changing and provision of onsite catering facilities.
There are 5 football pitches, 6 tennis courts, a kick-about football goal, wooden swan play features, park benches, a Jubilee Wood planted in 2012 and a large amount of open space. This open space is used for informal recreation, dog walking and, particularly on Saturday mornings, junior football training.
There are also about 6 acres (2.4 hectares) of woodland containing a variety of types of tree including Scots Pine, Oak, Silver Birch and Holly. All these facilities are owned and managed by Fleet Town Council.
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2.6 Conservation status The whole site has no current status in relation to the national conservation network. One part of the site has SINC status related to a Notable Species presence (camomile on the cricket ground).
Natural England Office: South East, Hampshire. 2nd Floor, Cromwell House, 15 Andover Road, Winchester, Hampshire, S023 7BT
3. History of the site 3.1 Lady Calthorpe’s Deed of Gift and Covenant On 4 June 1946 the Honourable Dame Rachel Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe (Lady Calthorpe) signed a deed of gift giving the park to the then Fleet Urban District Council. One clause of the deed of gift states that “with a view to providing for the recreation of the persons residing on The Settled Estate [surrounding residential areas] and the general public and for the advantage of the same the Council has agreed to accept the same subject to the covenant hereinafter contained”.
The covenant then lists a series of restrictions on how the land may be used. One of which is “that the said lands shall be used only as a public park and recreation ground for the District of Fleet and Crookham for the quiet and orderly pleasure and. recreation of the public”. The deed of gift and covenant, including a map defining the area gifted, is given in full in Appendix 2.
For a time, Fleet Urban District Council used Calthorpe Park as a landfill refuse tip. During this period the fish pond, shown on the plan that forms part of the deed of gift, was filled. Tipping ceased in 1964 and some time later the Council covered the tip area with soil and roughly levelled the ground. For a while the open space between the tennis courts and the football field was used as a pitch and putt course.
Over the years, various attempts were made by Fleet Urban District Council and its successor Hart District Council to erect buildings on Calthorpe Park. These were prevented by local residents, using the covenant to the deed of gift as a statement of permitted uses for the park. During one of these attempts, to build a sports pavilion in the wooded area, the northern third of the woodland was felled. In this area the mature Scots Pines have been replaced by self-seeded Silver Birches and scrub.
3.2 Fleet Cricket Club Fleet Cricket Club's first recorded match (a comfortable win against a Royal Engineers team) was noted in the 'Fleet Reporter' in September 1893, and the Club has been based at the current ground off Reading Road North since 1905. The Club is generously sponsored by two local firms, Murata Electronics and Market Media Limited.
It has 18 active teams, including 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs, a Sunday Firsts and Friendly XI, and numerous teams for various age groups from under 17s to under 9s. It uses eight cricket grounds in addition to Calthorpe Park.
From the deed of gift it is clear that the parcel of land assigned to Fleet Cricket Club includes the woodland fringes along Reading Road North, along the track that parallels Tavistock Road and along the western border of the cricket ground. The pavilion shown on the plan in the deed of gift was demolished in the 1970s and replaced with a larger building in the northern corner of the ground. The tennis courts had been moved westwards from the cricket ground to their present position before 1964.
3.3 Fleet Town Football Club (FTFC)
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Fleet Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club. It was established in 1890 and joined the Athenian League in 1979. In 2004 it joined the Isthmian League First Division, was moved into the Southern League Division One South & West in 2007, then moved back to the Isthmian League in 2008. The Club, which has a 250-seat stand, moved to its home ground at Calthorpe Park in March 1923 when Lord Calthorpe of Elvetham Hall made the site available. The club's best performance in the FA Cup came in 2007–08 and 2008–09 when it reached the third qualifying round.
From the plan in the deed of gift it is clear that the football ground does not include the woodland fringe to the north of it. Land parcel 164 to the south of the football ground has been used by Fleet Town Football Club as a car park and clubhouse area since at least 1964 and is defined as such within the lease agreement between FTFC and FTC.
3.4 Football training Associated with Fleet Town Football Club is Fleet Town Colts FC, which now has 21 teams for various age groups, and Fleet Town Girls and Ladies FC. Numbers of young people join training sessions on the open space of Calthorpe Park on Saturday mornings. Many cars are used to bring trainees from a wide area, with around 30 cars parked in Calthorpe Park mid-mornings on Saturdays.
3.5 Odiham District Scouts The Scout Hut on Calthorpe Park is currently headquarters to two groups of the Odiham District Scouts; the 22nd Fleet Scout Group and the 26th Fleet Sea Scout Group. The present Fleet Scout Group (22nd Odiham) was formed in 1927. In July 1937, Sir Fitzroy Gough-Calthorpe offered the Group a piece of land near the cricket pitch (probably the area now occupied by 13 Tavistock Road) on which to erect its own HQ. A hut was purchased from the Army and after considerable work including making an entry track from Reading Road North, Scout meetings started in the hut in March 1939.
This HQ was used until April 1959, when a letter from the Calthorpe Estate Office informed the Scout Group that the site had to be vacated by the end of the year. Lady Calthorpe had died and the Estate Office had decided to go into housing development.
Fleet Urban District Council, which had taken over the Park development, offered the Scouts a new site further from Reading Road North, which is where the Group is now located. A sectional wooden hut was purchased from the Navy and erected on this new site. Meetings in this hut started towards the end of 1960 but it was far from complete, lacking water, electricity and sanitation. A brick extension was added and all the services laid on so that a formal opening of this second HQ could take place in October 1963.
A second Scout Group was formed in 1962, the 26th Odiham, Fleet Sea Scouts, but there was no room to meet in the Calthorpe Park hut. In 1967 it was decided to erect a larger modern HQ to accommodate both the 22nd and 26th Scout Groups. After much voluntary work the third and present Scout HQ was officially opened by Sir Richard Gough-Calthorpe in May 1971.
The exterior of this third HQ has hardly changed for the last 40 years but in 2005 a problem with asbestos dust led to a complete removal and replacement of all the internal linings. Other improvements were made at the same time so that the building should continue to serve Scouting in Fleet for many years to come.
The two present Groups which use the HQ have about 150 youngsters aged from 6 to 15 years old and are led by 20 volunteer adults. Meetings of the 7 different Sections are
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held every week and much use is made of the open field and wooded areas of the Park as well as the small camp fire area close to the HQ.
4. Features of the site 4.1 Existing Sporting Provisions This section describes the sporting and recreation provision additional to those of Fleet Cricket Club (see 3.2), Fleet Town Football Club (see 3.3) and Odiham District Scouts (see 3.5).
4.1.1 Football pitches Currently on Calthorpe Park there are five mini pitches. These are both 7-a-side and 5-a-side. Mini pitches can be hired per season to include pitch marking, ground maintenance, use of the pavilion and toilets.
4.1.2 Tennis courts Calthorpe Park has 6 outdoor tennis courts. These can currently be booked for both block bookings and casual use. Currently Fleet Town Council has four regular block bookings. Courts 5 and 6 have a combination lock and these courts are used for casual bookings.
4.1.3 Sports pavilion The Sports Pavilion at Calthorpe Park is a small brick building that is home to the Fleet Town Colts Football Club each weekend. Here they serve teas, coffees and hot and cold snacks to parents and participants of football. During the week the pavilion is closed. It has separate male and female toilets that are used by both the football and tennis block bookings.
4.1.4 Other users of the Park Due to the park being a large open space in the middle of a residential area, it is popular with local dog walkers. It is also used by other dog walkers who bring their dogs by car. In addition, at least one dog training group uses the park for its activities.
The local Boys’ Brigade companies regularly use the park during the summer months for various activities and games.
It is also a common route for many parents and children walking to the local schools surrounding the parks area.
4.2 Swan structure A wooden swan structure was installed in the park in 2011. This was funded with money from S106 funding. It is a natural looking structure that local residents use to picnic by. You will often see young explorers climbing and playing on the structure itself.
4.3 Jubilee Wood To commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Friends of Calthorpe Park helped plant a 15 tree Jubilee Wood in Calthorpe Park. This is located next to the wooden swan structure and also has two park benches so people can sit and relax in the area whilst walking through Calthorpe Park.
4.4 Cycle route
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In March 2013 construction of Fleet’s first off-road cycle route started. This runs from the town centre to Calthorpe Park School. It runs close to the northern boundary of Calthorpe Park from Reading Road North to Merivale. From the Scout HQ to Merivale it is a 3 metre shared cycleway/footway with 5 metre lighting columns. From the Scout HQ to Reading Road North it is a 3.5 metre cycleway which will also be used by motor vehicles to and from parking spaces and heavy vehicles for special events, plus a separate footway. Completion is scheduled by September 2013.
5. Annual events Calthorpe Park’s location is ideal for many events as it is central to Fleet. Annually it hosts the Fleet Half Marathon, Fleet Lions Fireworks Display and Fleet Carnival. All are spectacular events in Fleet that take over the town bringing together the community. Due to the scale of these events the park now has electricity points by both the pavilion and tennis courts.
The covenant associated with Lady Calthorpe’s Deed of Gift defines a number of activities that are not permitted in the Park, for example trade or business, religious meetings or public oratory of any description, motor racing, dog or horse racing, the production of music by mechanical power (other than loudspeakers at religious or military services. or for giving directions at athletic sports), and public fairs of any description or strident roundabouts. Fleet Town Council has developed a policy statement on the use of all the parks in Fleet for major events, which is reproduced in Appendix 3. This relaxes some of the limitations imposed by the covenant while maintaining dialogue with local residents and the Friends of Calthorpe Park to ensure that unacceptable nuisance is not caused.
During 2012 a local resident also hosted the park’s first dog show event called ‘Bark in the Park’ aimed at raising funds for the park for crime prevention and park safety.
6. Current Management Practices Calthorpe Park is managed and maintained by Fleet Town Council. While the Town Council funds and makes any final decisions on any management works that take place on the site, all decisions are discussed thoroughly and agreed at liaison meetings with user groups, interested residents and the Friends of Calthorpe Park before being implemented.
Fleet Cricket Club leases the Cricket Ground from Fleet Town Council. Through their lease they attend to all cutting, brushing, fertilization and irrigation maintenance on their cricket pitch and upkeep of the woodland within their leased area.
Fleet Town Football Club leases the Ground from Fleet Town Council. Through their lease they attend to all cutting, brushing, fertilization and irrigation maintenance on their football pitch and upkeep of the woodland within their leased area.
The Odiham Division Scouts and Sea Scouts lease the large Scout Hut from Fleet Town Council.
No lease agreement is in place with Fleet Town Colts for their use of the Sport Pavilion, which is part of their hire agreement for the football pitches. Fleet Town Colts is the only group which currently hires the football pitches at Calthorpe Park from Fleet Town Council.
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A basic work programme was developed by Fleet Town Council when a new Grounds Maintenance contract was started in 2011. Current works undertaken at the Calthorpe Park include: maintenance of Football Pitches including grass cutting, applying fertilizer and seeding - Preparing the Football Pitches for matches including marking out, harrowing and maintenance to filling any holes; - Reinstatement during the summer months of sanding, verti-draining, seeding and goal mouth repairs; maintenance of existing and planting of new trees and flower beds; emptying all bins of the park; carrying out regular litter picks of the park; weeding and regularly blowing the debris off the tennis courts; and keeping all paths through the woodlands cut to a 2m distance.
All staff who carry out work at Calthorpe Park possess relevant horticultural qualifications and have also been trained in areas such as Health & Safety, Handling of Hazardous Substances, and use of equipment/machinery.
7. Management issues 7.1 Car parking There are currently formal parking spaces for 14 cars (of which 2 spaces are disabled bays designated for vehicles with blue badges), with further space for approximately ten cars behind Fleet Cricket Club pavilion. An extra three places are being provided during the construction of the cycle route.
On typical Saturday mornings, about 30 cars are parked, of which about 8 are behind the pavilion and another 8–10 along the track that leads to the Scout building. The two photographs show typical informal parking.
When the work on the cycle path has been completed, informal parking will no longer be possible but the demand for parking will still exist.
There are various possible ways to satisfy the demand for parking. One, subject to consultation with FTFC, is to encourage users to park in the FTFC car park. A suggestion to use at least part of the already-hardened space behind Stanton Drive as a car park was strongly opposed by residents at a meeting in February 2013. Another proposal to convert part (20%) of the lower field to additional car parking in conjunction with establishing a wetland area was similarly opposed by residents.
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To alleviate parking congestion in the NE corner of the Park it is proposed to introduce a further 5 formal spaces on land next to the tennis courts, see 9.3.11.
7.2 Vandalism For several years there have been issues over vandalism in Calthorpe Park. From time to time a group will take to racing cars or motorcycles along the track that parallels Tavistock Road. There have been several incidents of cars being driven over the cricket ground, causing considerable damage.
More recently, Hart District Council planted an avenue of ornamental trees across the park in 2011. Within a few weeks about a quarter of the trees had been damaged or destroyed, and despite replacements being planted, at least a quarter of the trees in the avenue are currently damaged or dead.
In March 2012, Fleet Town Council installed two picnic tables with benches near the Jubilee wood. Within a couple of weeks, one of these had been destroyed by fire. Similarly, within a few weeks of the installation of more extensive timber barriers to prevent car parking in areas that damage tree root systems, two horizontal barriers had been removed.
A triple track approach to this continuing problem is proposed: education, to deter the occurrence of vandalism; engineering, to make any features in the park difficult to damage; and enforcement, using CCTV, to track down and deter those causing damage.
Education must include the involvement of young people in the management of the park, so that peer pressure can be applied to those who cause damage. To date, attempts to involve young people in the management of the park have been frustrated by lack of response from Calthorpe Park School.
7.3. Events Calthorpe Park has become the venue for the majority of the outdoor civic events in Fleet. The scale and organisation of these events is controlled by Fleet Town Council through its Civic Events Policy (Appendix 3). The park has little all-weather surface and restricted entry ways and so with large scale events there is potential for damage to the facilities and ground condition of the park, this is particularly true if proper precautions are not taken for inclement weather or the use of heavy vehicles.
Events held in both 2012 and 2013 have resulted in damage to the park and, notwithstanding the financial cost to the council and/or bond holder of the event, the impact on regular users of the park has been significant. Whereas most damage was too formal grassed areas through volume of footfall and could be repaired relatively easily by ground staff and the passage of time (a few weeks), some damage required more extensive repairs and was visible for many months. This caused a significant number of complaints from the general public and gave a poor image of the care and pride the town took of its park.
The FTC Civic Events policy is silent on the regulation of protecting the park fabric and it is proposed by the Friends group that FTC be asked to amend the policy with the addition of the following clauses: 4.3.5 The protection required of grass areas and access paths for volume pedestrian access or use.
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4.3.6 The access and parking of lightweight event or emergency service vehicles (less than 1 ton) on non-paved areas of the park. General public or event participant parking will not be allowed. 4.3.7 The access of heavy vehicles or machinery into the park (greater than 1 ton) together with the protective surfacing required to be laid prior to movement off paved areas, appropriate for both dry and wet conditions.
It is hoped that with restrictions being agreed before events take place that damage will be minimised and the general appearance and state of the park be maintained and enhanced.
8. SWOT Analysis A SWOT Analysis is an assessment of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. A SWOT Analysis can help to identify any problems that need to be addressed, and accordingly help to focus management solutions and grant applications, as well as develop contingency measures.
A SWOT Analysis has been carried out by Fleet Town Council Staff in partnership with Friends of Calthorpe Park, in order to assess Calthorpe Park (see Table 1 below).
This was done using the Green Flag Award Scheme. The objective of the Green Flag Award Scheme is to encourage the provision of good quality green spaces that are managed in environmentally sustainable ways. Green Flag helps to create public recognition of good quality green spaces and in doing so aims to build the communities confidence in them. Recognised nationally, the process of applying for the award is as important as the award itself, initiating a programme of improvement that will help meet community expectations and ensure that best value is achieved in the management of the site.
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Table 1 SWOT analysis conducted by Fleet Town Council and Friends of Calthorpe Park Part 1 Strengths and weaknesses
GREEN A Healthy, Well Conservation Community FLAG Welcoming Safe and Maintained Sustainability Marketing Management and Heritage Involvement CRITERIA Place Secure and Clean
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES The site’s location is close to Fleet high street and is easily accessible from The park has limited car parking so those driving into Calthorpe Town by walking. Park have limited car parking spaces on site. The football pitches are uneven and need resurfacing. This will The park has six football pitches that are regularly used every weekend by a soon come under health and safety as the pitches are not large Youth Football Club in Fleet suitable to play on all year round. The Friends of Calthorpe Park has a large input into a lot of the park’s future The lack of CCTV in the park that can make it feel unsafe, developments. It has a keen interest in the park and its environmental particularly at night. This lack also allows anti-social behaviour wellbeing. and vandalism to occur unchecked. The park is used to host the town’s largest annual events, Marathon, There is not adequate signage to locate the park to passers-by, Carnival and Fireworks display, bringing in large crowds and promoting its by road or on foot. facilities. Merivale field (the Natural Wetland heath) section of Calthorpe It has six tennis courts that are regularly used by block bookings and for Park has significant drainage issues and throughout the winter is casual use. constantly wet or waterlogged. Fleet Town Council has a strong working relationship with Hart District The park is the only one owned by Fleet Town Council that does Council who own adjacent land and surrounding areas of Calthorpe Park. not have a play area in it. The park is occasionally vandalised causing the park to look The site is well maintained by the Grounds Maintenance team. untidy and unloved. Calthorpe Park is protected by the Covenant that protects the area from There is limited outdoor lighting within the park meaning the certain developments so that it is only used for the pleasure and recreation tennis courts cannot be used throughout the winter. of the public.
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The park has several pedestrian entrances and is used daily by many local The fact Calthorpe Park used to be a landfill site limits as to how dog walkers. the site can be used. Some User Organisations surrounding the park are It is home to both Sea Scouts and Scouts where they have a large hut that is unresponsive to requests to be involved in the development of leased from Fleet Town Council and used on a weekly basis. the park. The Woodland has not had any maintenance work in the past The park has a diverse user base which helps enhance its recreational use. few years. The only works completed have been tree surveys and any emergency works. The park has a well maintained Cricket Pitch that is leased by Fleet Cricket The park has had no biodiversity and environmental Club, along with its Cricket Pavilion. management for the last 50 years. Some of the buildings look neglected and old. The park has an unbroken tree line surrounding the park.
There are no community facilities – toilets, pavilion, changing There is limited noise pollution within the park. rooms.
There is a large recreational space where residents and external users can come and enjoy the park’s open space.
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Table 1 (continued) SWOT analysis conducted by Fleet Town Council and Friends of Calthorpe Park Part 2 Opportunities and threats
GREEN A Healthy, Well Conservation Community FLAG Welcoming Safe and Maintained Sustainability Marketing Management and Heritage Involvement CRITERIA Place Secure and Clean
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Car parking needs to be addressed so more people can enjoy Calthorpe Vandalism to the park. Park. (FTFC) Good amount of space for projects to support formal and informal recreation Uncontrolled parking at events and on weekends. This could (maximise for all the community) cause problems when the cycle path is installed. Funding for new signage has been obtained. These are to be designed and The park has been subject to local fly tipping. installed in the park. Funding needs to be sought to resurface the playing field area for all the Local residents objecting to future plans for the parks future football pitches so local teams can play safely in Calthorpe Park. opportunities. Merivale Field drainage issue needs to be addressed or a management plan Often the park can be subject to numerous amounts of litter and sorted for the park where this area is utilised to its full potential. dog fouling. Install a play area that meets the needs of the local residents. That is both Often, due to the lack of CCTV and lighting, the park can be inclusive and adventurous and serves a wide variety of ages. subject to underage drinking. Change two tennis courts into a Multi-User Games Area to provide more Every few years or so the park comes under local development opportunities for young people in the area to be active. pressures. The new cycle path installed by HCC will improve access to the park and Civic Events breaking the Covenant. encourage more people to cycle to Calthorpe Park. Install CCTV in the park to help keep people safe. Ensure that it includes Urbanisation because of the cycle route. infa-red so activities during both the day and night can be seen.
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A management plan needs to be created than includes everything about the External Organisations are unwilling to involve themselves in park and woodland areas to establish the priorities. the development of the park. Some user groups’ relationships with residents have Create a wildflower meadow to improve biodiversity in the site. deteriorated over the years. Allow Merivale Field (lower training pitch) to revert back to a wetland with The over-use of existing facilities. board walk access. If there is a car park built in Calthorpe Park, this may result in Go for SINC/Green flag Status people using it to then park for free and walk into the town centre. If a play area is built in Calthorpe Park, the play equipment will External funding sources for various projects need to be identified. need to be well maintained and kept safe from vandalism.
Numerous Biodiversity opportunities are available with HDC and HBIC.
Develop an orienteering route in the park that can be used by anyone.
Provide outdoor adult fitness facilities
Gain support of existing major users (FTFC/CC/Scouts) in development opportunities and integrate them into the management of the park and use of their facilities Build a new, upgraded community pavilion for the use of everyone coming into the park.
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9. Action plan for Calthorpe Park 9.1 Vision and Objectives A vision provides direction for the management of the park, the aims and objectives to be set and the projects chosen to implement the vision. The vision for the future of Calthorpe Park is described in Table 2 below. This aims to be realistic, but also includes optimism and hope. The objectives listed in Table 2 are specific aspirations which will need to be achieved if the overall vision is to be fulfilled.
Table 2 Vision and Objectives for Calthorpe Park
Vision for Calthorpe Park
Maintain the multi-purpose outdoor leisure facility that provides an attractive, safe and welcoming environment for a broad range of people regardless of age or mobility. To continue to provide a quiet recreational oasis for the wider Fleet community Objectives for Calthorpe Park
To manage and enhance the biodiversity of the site for future generations to enjoy. To improve the condition of the woodland area by removing invasive species and opening clearings for greater biodiversity. To improve the condition of the grass open areas for a variety of users. To provide good quality play equipment for children. To serve the needs of identified groups of users including sports clubs and informal users. To improve formal and informal leisure facilities within the Park. To protect the park and its users against vandalism and anti-social behaviour. To increase the proportion of the park recognised as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)
9.2 Community Involvement For Calthorpe Park to thrive as a local park environment, community involvement is a key component, not just in the maintenance of the woodland and park features but also in how the existing facilities are developed, delivered and maintained.
A well run and well supported Friends of Calthorpe Park Group is an important aspect of this. The Friends group, which meets on a regular basis, has taken a keen interest and active role in the activities, events and horticultural work taking place on the site. The group has adopted its own constitution and has its own bank account which it uses to develop the aims of their constitution. These aims are as follows:
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To work towards the protection, maintenance and enhancement of Calthorpe Park for the benefit of the local community, in partnership with the local Council and in compliance with the conveyance of 4th June 1946 between Lady Calthorpe and Fleet Urban District Council (“the covenant”). To promote the preservation and maintenance of Calthorpe Park woods and to promote their use as a public amenity. To seek the recognition of the woods as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).
It is envisaged that the Friends group will evolve, grow and develop with the support of Fleet Town Council. The aim is to see the Friends group as both an integral part of the running of the park and also as a body that can raise funds for other projects in and around the site.
9.3 Developing the Park
The Friends of Calthorpe Park have developed a wish list of projects through consultation with its members and discussions with Fleet Town Council. These projects are listed below and it is anticipated that this list will be reviewed annually at its Annual General Meeting and with FTC to ensure that the development plans are maintained in line with community wishes. Individual projects are outlined below and potential funding sources and timelines listed in Appendix 6.
The group has identified the need for a new meadow area and is also seeking SINC status for the park. However, in order to gain SINC status, the park will need some park management before this can be achieved. Currently the only area with SINC status is the cricket ground, where camomile grows.
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Cricket ground FTFC Swan car structure park s FTFC Wild flower ground meadow
Multi-user games area Woodland – management required
Allow wet field to revert to natural wetland Cycle heath route
General area for new play equipment
Figure 3 Indicative locations of projects in the action plan
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9.3.1 CCTV (DP1) CCTV surveillance should be installed to counter vandalism and other anti-social behaviour. Three (3) installations are envisaged along the length of the new cycle way to provide coverage from the north tree-line to the south tree-line. The CCTV coverage will not include the Fleet Cricket and Football grounds.
9.3.2 Multi-User Games Area (MUGA) (CP2) The majority of teenagers in Fleet would like to see a multi-user games area (MUGA) installed. In particular the facilities to support Netball and Basketball have been requested. To avoid loss of grassed area, one possibility is to convert the two western tennis courts (courts 5 and 6) into a multi-user games area (Figure 3).
Residents do not oppose the use of two tennis courts for a multi-user games area, but strongly opposed any suggestion of floodlighting the area. It was suggested that the MUGA be initially introduced in such a way that the courts could be returned to tennis if experience showed that this was necessary
9.3.3 Wildflower meadow (DP3) There is interest in creating a small area of wild flower meadow along the boundary with Stanton Drive, to encourage bio-diversity and provide habitat for bees, insects and butterflies. Volunteers from Friends of Calthorpe Park would take on the work of planting the meadow. Grants and Funds have been raised to include seating.
To prevent vehicle access to the meadow it will also be necessary to install low level barriers (dragon’s teeth) as historically vehicles have used the area for parking at civic events. It is proposed to keep a turning area at the left hand side of the planted area to provide a passing and turning point.
9.3.4 Children’s Play Area (CP1) Fleet Town Council have made the installation of a children’s play area in Calthorpe Park one of their priority projects to serve the West of Fleet community. A suitable location would be at the Merivale end of the park (see Figure 3). There is a strong wish to make the play equipment suitable for children with disabilities and support an age range from 2-12. Accessibility would be enhanced by siting next to the cycle way.
9.3.5 Resurface playing fields (CP3, CP5) Repairs need to be made to the ground used to provide a flatter surface for football practice and Colts matches. In addition, the grass area between the tennis courts and the swan structures was damaged by heavy vehicles during the Fleet Half Marathon in spring 2013, and requires similar repairs. The football pitches are heavily used during the season and are a key leisure resource for youth football clubs.
9.3.6 Manage the woodland (DP5, DP6) The woodland is heavily overgrown and contains a large amount of holly. The Friends of Calthorpe Park have been advised that the biodiversity of the area could be significantly increased by a programme of clearance and the provision of nesting boxes for birds and bats. This will be a key activity in enhancing ecological benefits of the park and moving towards an enhanced SINC status.
9.3.7 Outdoor Table Tennis Tables (DP4) Fleet Town Council would like to install an outdoor table tennis table in the park to encourage people of all ages to get active and play the sport.
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9.3.8 Wet field adjoining Merivale (DP7, DP8) The small football practice field between Merivale and the main area of woodland is very wet and has been laid over a layer of peat that formed a wetland heath. This should be allowed to revert to natural wetland heath, which would increase the chances of obtaining SINC status for Calthorpe Park. The nature of this field means that it cannot be used for team games or other organised sport.
9.3.9 Adult Fitness Equipment (DP12) Provision of Adult fitness equipment throughout the park to encourage use by wider community.
9.3.10 Develop an Orienteering Course in the Park (DP11) Provision of an Orienteering Course encompassing the 36-acre park to encourage wider use of the park by schools and clubs.
9.3.11 Upgrade Jubilee Garden (DP15) The Jubilee Garden was planted in 2012 by FTC to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Temporary netting was used to prevent damage to trees and this has proven to be effective but unsightly. It is proposed that more substantial permanent tree guards are introduced and the vandalised picnic table replaced.
9.3.12 Sensory garden (DP10) A sensory garden is a garden created to be accessible and enjoyable to both disabled and non-disabled users. It provides sensory opportunities that may not normally be experienced. Sensory gardens usually have infrastructure to permit wheelchair access and access to visually impaired people; the design and layout provide a stimulating journey through the senses, heightening awareness and giving positive learning experiences. A sensory garden may contain accessible features such as scented plants, sculptures and sculpted handrails, water features designed to make sound and play over the hands, and textured touch-pads.
Fleet Town Council has funding for a sensory garden from developer contributions. It is proposed to locate this at the western end of the tennis courts, with wheelchair access from the cycle route (see Figure 3). Its location is intended to particularly benefit residents of Campbell Place. The precise design of the garden will depend on the level of funding available, and expert advice will be required for the design and construction of this specialised feature.
9.3.13 Additional Parking (DP9) To alleviate parking issues in NE corner of park (particularly for weekend football training and Scout evenings) it is proposed to move dragon’s teeth next to Tennis Courts back 3 metres to allow an additional 5 formal parking bays to be constructed. The area previously had mature trees that needed protection but these have been recently felled due to disease.
9.3.14 New Park Pavilion (DP13) The existing park pavilion is in relative disrepair and does not provide changing facilities for park users or clubs. It is proposed that this should be replaced by a purpose built building. Two main options have been put forward but no consultation has yet taken place with any groups impacted by the idea.
If the pavilion was to provide sports changing and toilet facilities only then the current site would be suitable for any new building. However if it was thought appropriate to extend its use as a social meeting place (i.e. a park community centre) or designed
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to support Fleet Football Club then it is not thought appropriate to build on current site due to neighbour proximity and space constraints. A suitable site could be next to FTFC ground on south treeline of the park (see Figure 3).
9.3.15 Cycle Way extension (DP14) With the new cycleway running through the park it is thought appropriate to facilitate the access from Crookham Road (Basingstoke Canal) to the NE Park corner via the gravel track running along the park boundary. This would extend the improving network of cycle and walkways being introduced to Fleet. To facilitate access the gating would need to be changed at the Crookham Road entrance and the Park entrance by the tennis courts. The gravel track would also need to be upgraded to provide a safe surface. This would remain an unadopted route and hence not subject to HCC standards on lighting etc. If an adopted extension of the HCC cycleway was proposed then this should be considered separately by the community.
9.4 Maintenance of Equipment, Buildings and Landscape Fleet Town Council inspects the buildings and parks weekly. In addition to this, the Swan Play structure and open play areas are checked weekly by a qualified playground inspector of the Grounds Maintenance team. Reports are completed and handed in monthly to the Sport and Recreation Officer who will then analyse the reports and organise any relevant works for the play areas should they need completing.
9.4.1 Annual Management and Maintenance The staffing, management and maintenance of Calthorpe Park falls to Fleet Town Council as owners of the site. Although the Grounds Maintenance team do the majority of work on site, outside contractors are required from time to time, where specialist skills are warranted. Accordingly, an approved list of contractors has been developed by Fleet Town Council.
9.4.2 Woodland Management See section 13.1.
9.4.3 Weekly maintenance The weekly maintenance checklist is given at Appendix 4. To include emptying of dog and general waste bins.
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Part 2 Ecology and Wildlife
Site Description: The park is primarily divided between formal and informal use, with managed turf areas for a mix of sports activities. Football is one of the key activities on the cut areas; used for both formal and informal play. There are enclosed hard surface tennis courts close to the access road and to the east of the site is a close cut pitch for Fleet Cricket Club. There are areas cut to provide informal play areas with wooden sculpture. The other sections of the park are of two main habitat types; mixed woodland and scrub habitats at the edges of the fields. There are larger trees that have grown along boundaries and some newly planted ornamental trees associated with the sculptures (Jubilee Wood).
Management Policies 1. To maintain and enhance the existing wildlife habitats – principally the grassland, scrub, planted trees, mature trees, woodland, ditches and dead wood- and their eco-tones to beneficial effect.
2. To create a small wildflower area and restore the pond.
3. To create bare ground across some of the wildlife areas within the park.
4. To maintain and enhance all boundary features and habitats to provide age, structure and species diversity – particularly field and woodland edge.
5. To increase dead wood provision across the site.
6. To maintain public access through the provision of parking, footpaths and cycling facilities.
7. To augment site management information through the provision of suitable interpretation.
8. To undertake suitable research, survey and monitoring of site management, public access, key species and habitats.
9. To remove invasive species on the site e.g. Rhododendron ponticum.
10. To maintain regular contact with Natural England, the local Wildlife Trust and other interested parties to develop better understanding and foster better working relationships.
11. To ensure that all practices comply with the relevant Health & Safety legislation and that, as far as is practicable; all activities consider the environment in line with the council's policy of sustainability.
Objectives To manage and enhance the grassland areas through a regime of cyclical cutting and native wildflower sowing, incorporating the development of rank grassland for invertebrates and small mammals.
To maintain age and structure of the existing trees by selective felling, pollarding, coppicing and management of invasive and exotic species.
To create and maintain areas of bare ground habitat on a rotational basis in various patches across the site.
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To maintain and enhance the scrub habitats through a cyclical regime of cutting to create age and structure.
To maintain and enhance the boundary habitats and ditches through removal of exotics, planting of native shrubs and trees and cyclical clearance, this will provide age and structure and continue drainage of site.
To maintain and enhance the site through leaving standing and lying dead wood in various forms, whilst implementing health and safety associated with such works.
Removal and management of invasive species through suitable means including cutting and the use of pesticides where necessary.
To create/re-establish pond/s on the site in suitable areas adhering to health and safety as required.
To maintain the site paths, cycle ways and parking provision through suitable vegetation clearance on a rotational basis and structural works where necessary.
To provide and improve interpretation through provision of and encouragement of group and school activities, signage, information panels and leaflets.
To undertake survey work appropriate to the site status and its management by the use of standard techniques – e.g. key species identification.
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10. Environmental Information 10.1 Physical 10.1.1 Climate The park is situated in an area of relatively low average rainfall and warm temperatures. The figures below give historic data means for the main nearest recording station at Heathrow (25 amsl) from 1971 to 2000, giving a guide to the prevailing climate conditions. Rainfall figures are for Bracknell (74 amsl) again from 1971 to 2000. Snowfall is low with only 12 — 15 days per year and these rarely occur outside the months of the period December to March. As these are average figures for the years quoted it should be noted that there are periods of heavy frosts and low temperatures particularly in the shaded areas of the site (all data from the Met Office website).
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rainfall 63 42 50 50 54 52 42 51 63 72 64 67 mm Sunshine 65 78 125 180 235 240 245 245 175 125 85 55 Hours Wind 7,5 7.5 7.5 7 7 6.5 6 6 6.5 6.5 7 7.5 Knots Temp°C 7 8 11 14 17 21 23 22 19 16 11 8 Max Temp°C 2 3 4 5 8 11 13 13 11 7 4 3 Min
10.1.2 Hydrology On a local scale the parks topography is a relatively flat area with a gradual slope running from 75 amsl in the east to 70 amsl in the west; from the cricket ground to the boundary with Merivale. There is also a gradual slope from north of the site to the south. The main effect of these two slopes is the movement of surface and groundwater to ditches that bound the western edge of the site, as well as creating a wetter grassed area on the southern part of the site.
On the broader scale the park falls into the catchment area of the River Loddon and its other tributaries, such as the Hart, both of which flow north to join the Thames (EA 2003)
10.1.3 Geology The broad geology of the area is of sands and gravels of the Bagshot and Bracklesham Beds and London Clays. Fleet itself sits on Camberley Sand and Windlesham Formations, with London Clay formations to the north (EA 2003)
10.1.4 Soils The site is based on sands and gravels with upper soil changes where the areas have had improvement for sports usage allowing for turf growth. In other areas, such as the woodland edges the soils are typical of the local heathland associated with podzolization; leached grey soil.
10.2 Biological 10.2.1 Habitats The current distribution of habitats consists principally of grasslands, scrub and mixed woodland.
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10.2.2 Flora Some survey work has been carried out, with further work this summer, related to the development of the new cycle path. It will be useful to have this information when available.
An important note is the County Notable Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) which occurs on the outfield of the cricket pitch.
There is a list appended from survey work carried out by Hampshire Biological Records Centre (HBIC).
10.2.3 Fauna Some survey work has been carried out, with further work this summer, related to the development of the new cycle path. This will be useful data when available. Main groups are birds, mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians, Invertebrates.
10.3 Cultural Calthorpe Park, like much of the area, was once a large private estate that over time has declined with the site covenanted over to Fleet Urban District Council in 1946 as a site for a public park and recreation.
10.3.1 Commercial Site Income The Fleet Town Council have income from the leasing of the land to the Cricket Club and the Football Club, as well as the use of the fields for organised football and the tennis courts.
Grant Aid 10.3.2 Research, Survey and Monitoring There is currently no formal strategy for the monitoring of the site management through research and survey. As noted above some work has been done. There will need to a planned strategy to acquire wildlife data as part of the overall management to ensure that the sites biodiversity is improving; this is mainly associated with the aim of gaining SINC status for the rest of the site currently not designated.
10.3.3 Main Conservation Management already achieved No formal conservation work has been carried out, although planting for landscape value has taken place including trees dividing football areas, near the sculptures and bulb planting on various parts of the park.
11. Evaluation 11.1 Size Approximately 34.4 acres/13.9 hectares
11.2 Diversity Although the park has large areas of cut grass, the aspects of scrub, uncut grass, mature trees and developing woodland offer a good mix of alternative habitats for wildlife. The scrub is mainly large patches of Bramble (Rubus fruiticosus) intermingled with other plants. Some of the mature trees have growths of Ivy (Hedera helix) growing up the stems, are an important habitat and for food source for wildlife. The edge habitats have mixes of grasses and flowering species and in some parts give rise to some heathland plants and bare ground. All this provides a good mix of age and structure for assemblages of birds, mammals, invertebrates and fungi.
11.3 Naturalness
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The park has been heavily modified over the years with any natural successional processes being checked on the regularly cut grass areas. The large, mature trees are associated with the original boundaries to the site and in consequence are old and ecological important. The woodland to the south of the site is mainly natural regeneration, over what was probably the original heathland typical of the area; heather still grows in patches at the edges of the wood where it is open.
11.4 Rarity None of the habitats present on the park would be considered rare or threatened, but the dead wood habitat types could be considered in decline. This is especially true in urban areas where concerns related to tidiness and necessarily to health and safety reduce the amount available to a wide range of specialist invertebrate (beetles), avian (woodpeckers), mammal (bats) and fungal species. The rarest plant, as mentioned is the Chamomile growing in the cricket outfield and needs considerate management.
11.5 Fragility Habitats will change through successional processes and/or invasion by vigorous native or non-native species. Some of these processes are currently apparent on the park with Bramble predominating, along with Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) an issue in parts of the site. Management procedures currently planned should help to redress the balance reducing their impact on habitats vulnerable to change and therefore species composition. Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in the woodlands is currently creating conditions that reduce light to the woodland floor, thus suppressing and restricting the growth of field and ground level flora, as well as other tree seedlings.
11.6 Typicalness The park is typical of the area, old mainly Victorian estates turned over to housing or open space, providing a haven for wildlife and people. The mature trees as estate anomalies of the original boundary are also typical, demonstrating how the land has changed over time. The woodland block is typical of unmanaged woodland, regenerated on heathland.
11.7 Recorded History For this see Section 1 of this dicument
11.8 Position in Ecological Unit Calthorpe Park as it is could be considered to have ecological importance by providing connectivity to other areas in the locale and in particular to the open fields to the west of the site and the cemetery to the south. The site also allows movement between the houses locally, many of which have large gardens providing foraging opportunities, chiefly to the north and south. Other factors to consider are its' availability to more mobile species such as aerial invertebrates, birds (including migratory and on passage to other local sites e.g. Fleet Pond) and bats from other local sites such as rivers, ponds and woodlands surrounding Fleet. The site may also provide roosting opportunities, day or night, for a wide range of wildlife species.
11.9 Potential Value 11.9.1 Habitat and Species Management As previously described the park has a number of habitat types, some of which have a high potential ecological value. The site management focuses around these with the need for a regular management regime, mainly by annual cutting.
11.9.2 Human Use Education
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Potential exists to increase the number of visitors and interested parties visiting Calthorpe Park, mainly through local contacts, schools, clubs and involvement in the historic and wildlife aspects of the park.
11.9.3 Public Affairs The current and potential habitats and their diversity will help promote the wildlife area by offering opportunities to influence individuals and organisations. It can help to demonstrate the value of conserving native wildlife and its heritage value both locally and nationally.
11.10 Intrinsic Appeal The site will continue to have high appeal to a wide variety of interested parties, mainly by being local and as part of the complex of site owned and managed by Fleet Town Council. It has recreational, historic as well as wildlife interest and will connect different elements of the town via current footpaths and the proposed cycle path.
11.11 Other Criteria None
11.12 Identification/Confirmation of Important Features Although the habitats of the park are will be in a period of change under a new management regime, there are still some important features that have been identified. The large, mature trees have high conservation value and ecological interest for invertebrates and as potential roost sites for bats. The patches of dense scrub afford good cover for nesting birds and the movements or laying up of larger mammals e.g. deer. Some of the edges of the woodland facing south have potential for reptiles, sun loving invertebrates and the wetter ditch areas for amphibians. There is dead wood across the site that has the potential to support invertebrate and fungal species. The area as a whole is probably important for its foraging potential throughout the year e.g. flowering plants and Bramble (flowers and fruits).
11.13 Operations likely to damage special features and interests Although the wildlife area currently has no statutory designation for its wildlife value, it is useful to take guidance from Natural England's guidance of Potentially Damaging Operations associated with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (this is available from Natural England). For this site some general points can be made. The felling of the mature trees and loss of associated Ivy. Uncontrolled access and fly tipping/vandalism Removal of too much of the scrub habitat at any one time/reduction of age structure and graded edge. Removal of dead wood from the site. The potential increase in non-native invasive species — for example Rhododendron ponticum.
11.14 Main factors influencing the management of the site Internal — General The boundary habitats have declined in their quality; it may take a number of years to develop them and their value to wildlife. Cutting of the rough grassland and scrub habitats is essential to the botanical, invertebrate and reptile interest and value. Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) encroachment may increase due to the 'opening up' of the scrub habitats, woodland and pathways potentially reducing some of their value to wildlife. The development of new ponds across the area.
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11.14.1 External — General The footpaths across the site may encourage people to walk into areas that have been set aside as low disturbance areas for wildlife.
The necessary need to consult with outside organisations, both governmental and non-governmental on aspects of site management, can take time, money and slow processes down.
11.15 Land of Conservation or strategic importance in the vicinity of the site Conservation of habitats and their associated species should not be considered in isolation and any action to improve site connectivity and provision for transient species should always be a consideration. Calthorpe Park is in an area of some locally and nationally important habitat types and priority Biodiversity Action Plan species associated with them.
Locally there are the Local Nature Reserves of Elvetham Heath and Zebon Copse. Fleet Pond (48.33ha) is also a priority habitat type and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), habitats include fen, reedbed and woodland with patchy heath.
On a larger scale there are international sites of conservation importance, the National Nature Reserve of Castle Bottom on Yateley Common with a combined area of about 922 ha and the heaths to the south at Bourley and Long Valley of 823 ha. Both of these are important habitats support a number of important wildlife species and are both part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA).
The site will also be near/within the Blackwater Biodiversity Opportunity Area, these are broad scale habitats that offer through management greatest impact for wildlife improvement i.e. habitat restoration or creation.
12. Management Policies 12.1.1 To maintain and enhance the existing ecosystems – principally the woodland, grassland, scrub, planted trees, mature trees, ditches and dead wood – and their eco-tones to beneficial effect.
12.1.2 To transform some of the existing habitat to incorporate a pond or ponds.
12.1.3 To create and maintain areas of bare ground across the park.
12.1.4 To maintain and enhance all boundary features and habitats to provide age, structure and species diversity.
12.1.5 To increase dead wood provision across the site.
12.1.6 To maintain public access through provision of parking, footpath and cycling facilities.
12.1.7 To augment site management information through the provision of suitable interpretation.
12.1.8 To undertake suitable research, survey and monitoring of site management, public access, key species and habitats.
12.1.9 To remove invasive species on the site e.g. Rhododendron
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12.1.10 To maintain regular contact with Natural England, the local Wildlife Trust and other interested parties to develop better understanding and foster better working relationships.
12.1.11 To ensure that all practices comply with the relevant Health and Safety legislation and that, as far as is practicable; all activities consider the environment in line with the council's policies of sustainability.
12.2 Rationale The management outlined in this plan offers the opportunity to significantly increase the overall habitat and species diversity. The reversion of the dense blocks of Bramble and associated scrub species to more open habitat with improved edge quality will provide a valuable contribution to improving the local biodiversity and meeting the council's requirements under the National Indicators (Biodiversity N1197).
The restoration or addition of pond/s at selected points across the wildlife area will add further diversity over time.
The boundary improvements will increase the provision of nesting and foraging opportunities for birds, invertebrates and small mammals, as well as shelter and possible aid to movement between this and other sites in the local area.
The increased provision of dead wood in all areas where possible should benefit a wide range of invertebrate and fungal groups, as well as bats and birds. It may be standing, lying, wet or dry to benefit the widest variety of species that require differing environmental conditions.
Bare ground should be included into all management, this is important for sun-loving invertebrates and reptiles. It can also offer seed beds for the wide variety of flowers that grow on the park area.
All these habitat improvements and changes will increase the wildlife areas diversity and interest for all visitors and local people. It will enhance the profile and demonstrate the council's commitment to nature conservation both locally and nationally.
13. Management Prescriptions and Operations For each prescription there is a section with a short description. This is complimented by the project code, the compartment/s in which the prescriptive works will take place and the key objective to which the prescription relates. Compartments are shown on Figure 4.
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Figure 4: Compartments of the Park
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13.1 Woodland and Mature Trees 13.1.1 Management of Existing Trees MT1 Compartments 1, 1A, 3, 4A, 6, 6A, 6B, 7, 7A, 11, 11A Policy 4.1
To manage existing mature trees for their conservation and amenity value, with proactive maintenance through tree inspections and corrective work to meet health & safety requirements as needed e.g. pollarding.
13.1.2 Provision of Dead Wood MT2 Whole Site Policy 4.1 & 4.5
To manage existing dead wood on the site, both standing and lying, through tree inspections and stabilisation to meet health and safety requirements. Increase the amount of mature dead wood on the site through acquisitions from local developments, arboricultural firms and from further works on other Fleet Town Council sites. Re-assess every two years.
13.1.3 Management of Woodland WO1 Compartments 1, 6, 7 Policy 4.1 & 4.5
To manage the existing mixed woodland, to improve age, structure and edge. Initially through a gradual process of Holly (Ilex aquifolium) reduction, tree thinning and coppicing; with a review in year five.
13.2 Boundaries 13.2.1 Management of Existing BO1 Compartments 1, 3, 4A, pt 6, 7, 7A, 11, 11A Policy 4.1 & 4.4 To manage existing boundary trees and shrubs to maintain their conservation, landscape and amenity value; this work will encompass health and safety associated with trees near properties.
13.2.2 Re-establish/recreate boundary flora B02 Compartments as 13.2.1 Policy 4.4 To re-establish primarily through planting hedges and boundary trees (where required) to enhance existing and create new habitat. Review in year five to assess work done and future plantings.
13.3 Grassland — Improved and Unimproved 13.3.1 Management by Cutting IG01 Whole Site where applicable Policy 4.1 To implement a sport turf cutting regime to maintain these suitable for sports activities, primarily football.
In the other areas to implement a cutting regime to create age, structure and diversity to enhance edge condition especially associated with the scrub habitats. All arisings to be removed and where possible cuttings should be placed in small piles to encourage potential breeding Grass Snake (Natrix natrix).
13.4 Ditches 13.4.1 Maintain and Enhance DI01 Boundaries and base of Slopes Policy 4.1 To maintain ditches to ensure their viability to meet the drainage requirements of the site, whilst sustaining any features and species of importance to the site through suitable clearance work.
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13.5 Scrub 13.5.1 Maintain and Enhance SR01 Whole Site Policy 4.1, 4.6 To manage and enhance existing Bramble scrub, particularly patches associated with maintaining access e.g. footpaths. Management will be on a rotational basis creating patches from fresh cut (0 years) through to 7 years of age. This will provide a variation and structure over the whole of the wildlife area.
13.5.2 Maintain Views and Vistas V03 Whole Site Policy 4.7 Through appropriate selective works on site habitats e.g. scrub management, maintain open aspects of the site as views.
13.6 Ponds 13.6.1 Create and Manage P01 Compartments 6, 11 Policy 4.2 To create pond/s on the park through suitable techniques, creating the ponds if possible over a number of years improving the age, variety and structure across the site as a whole. Manage and enhance the new ponds by removal of some emergent and marginal vegetation on an annual basis. Review progress in year five.
13.7 Bare Ground 13.7.1 Create and Manage BG01 Whole Site Policy 4.3 To create and maintain patches of bare ground across the park, in particular the south facing edges and slopes in conjunction with scrub and grassland management. Patches to be in the form of small strips or squares and managed on a rotation.
13.8 Visitors/Interpretation/Education 13.8.1 Site Patrols and Security V01 Whole Site Policy 4.6, 4.11 To patrol the park Reserve to maintain security, site integrity, safety and control/monitor the behaviour of both formal and informal users of the site. This work can be linked with the survey and monitoring of species throughout the year, in particular the breeding season. This is to be through ad-hoc walked patrols and with use of camera equipment over the car park area to reduce the likelihood of fly-tipping and vandalism. This could potentially be tied in with Hart District Council's Ranger Service normal working.
13.8.2 Maintain Site Presence/Interpretation V02 Whole Site Policy 4.6, 4.7, 4.11 To maintain a reasonable site presence in conjunction with other sites in Hart District this will benefit visitors to Calthorpe Park. This could also be achieved through provision of a leaflet, signage and notice boards.
13.9 Estate and Equipment 13.9.1 Erect and Maintain New Fencing ES01 Whole Site Boundaries (where required) Policy 4.4, 4.11 To maintain existing fence lines to mark boundaries and improve site integrity. The management of fence lines will reduce the opportunities for dumping of uncontrolled waste and misuse of site e.g. vehicle scrambling. Knee rail in car park areas will reduce poor parking and damage to field edges.
13.9.2 Access ES02 Whole Site Policy 4.6, 4.11
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To maintain and improve cycling and walking access through regular clearance of encroaching vegetation annually, but with regular trimming as required through the growing season. Some basic countryside style furniture will be provided in suitable locations for rest stops and viewing.
13.9.3 Acquire and Maintain Site Equipment ES03 Policy 4.1, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To maintain in good working order all site equipment and hand tools, survey kit etc. To purchase further equipment for site and volunteers as work programmes and budgets allow. Implement a regular maintenance and replacement schedule; links with Tool Pool facility for all Friends Groups in Fleet Town Council area.
13.10 Public Relations and Administration 13.10.1 Liaison — Local Landowners PR01 Policy 4.10 To maintain regular contact with the neighbouring landowners and householders in order to foster better understanding of the management of Calthorpe Park. In this way influence the management of the surrounding areas to benefit conservation in the local urban environment e.g. wildlife gardening.
13.10.2 Liaison — Local Community PRO2 Policy 4.10 To maintain and promote regular contact with the local community of Fleet and to foster a better understanding of the site, its management and Fleet Town Council, by sites talks, walks and outreach with school and local groups, as well as the involvement of local groups e.g. Fleet and Crookham Local History Group.
13.10.3 Liaison — Council Staff and Members PRO3 Policy 4.10 To maintain regular contact with interested personnel within the councils of Hart and Fleet; to provide information on the park, its management and species of interest; this will be achieved by discussions and an annual report.
13.10.4 Liaison —Authorities PRO4 Policy 4.10 To maintain regular contact with all local and national authorities (especially Natural England, Environment Agency, other councils, H & IoW Wildlife Trust.) to foster better understanding of Calthorpe Park and Fleet Town Council. To assist in the development and implementation of the management plan with a Natural England representative to be invited annually to review site management.
13.10.5 Reserve Safety PROS Policy 4.5, 4.6, 4.9, 4.11 To inspect regularly, all site operations, working conditions, equipment and public access to ensure that they conform to current health and safety legislation and Codes of Practice. No unauthorised persons to use power tools (chainsaws and brushcutters) on the site.
13.10.6 Correspondence and Admin CA01 Policy 4.10, 4.11 To process all general site correspondence as quickly and efficiently as possible and to manage the day-to-day running of Calthorpe Park as efficiently as possible. Staff meetings associated with the site will help to maintain, develop and improve communication related to the sites management and interpretation.
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13.11 Research/Survey/Monitoring Site surveys for wildlife and usage can provide valuable information that can help with identification of important species presence, changes over time and an understanding of how the site is utilised by visitors. It will also help with the review process in relation to ongoing management and gives guidance on projected funding related management.
13.11.1 Botanical Surveys BS01 Whole Site Policy 4.7, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To carry out a baseline survey (Phase 1) to establish an initial understanding of the parks botanical interest and highlight target areas for further investigation; this will further aid in the future management of the site. Work to be carried out internally or by specialist contractors.
13.11.2 Invertebrate Surveys IS01 Whole Site Policy 4.7, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To sample invertebrate presence through pit-fall traps, sweep netting, pond dipping and direct searching. The use of light traps for night time trapping of moths and other night flying invertebrates may help in providing even more data of species presence. Contact with interested local parties may also be of value.
13.11.3 Mammal Surveys MS01 Whole Site Policy 4.7, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To collect data of mammals utilising the park and if possible their locations, these surveys will be a combination of small mammal trapping, use of bat detector and general observations. Contact with local groups may also prove valuable.
13.11.4 Bird Surveys BD01 Whole Site Policy 4.7, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To collect data of birds utilising the Nature Reserve and if possible their locations, these surveys will be through formal walks and informal observations. Any help from local groups and individuals can be very helpful.
13.11.5 Visitor Survey VS01 Whole Site Policy 4.6, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To collect data on visitor use related to the Nature Reserve through formal survey coupled with reason for visit, visitor numbers, distance from site etc. This will assist in providing information in the short, medium and long term related to site management and the connected facilities.
13.11.6 Other Wildlife Groups WG01 Whole Site Policy 4.8, 4.10, 4.11 To collect data on other wildlife groups that are currently found on the site and associated with management of habitats and subsequent changes. These include more seasonal groups such as fungi and specialist group's lichens, mosses, bees etc. with surveys to be carried out by specialists on a basis of when resources are available.
13.11.7 Revision of Management Plan MP01 Whole Site Policy (All) o revise management plan, in association with site manager and other relevant staff, to assess changes within the Wildlife Area and its' habitats etc. this to be done in year five of the plan incorporating changes as necessary.
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SECTION 14 Ten Year Work Programme — Summary PROJECT WORK DESCRIPTION PRIORITY YEAR OF OPERATION CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Woodland & Mature Trees MT01 Management of existing trees ,/ MT02 Provision of dead wood WO1 Woodland Management ,/ Boundaries B01 Manage existing boundaries V V V ,/ B02 Re-establish flora V Grassland – Improved & Unimproved IG01 Management by cutting Ditches DI01 Maintain and enhance ` V V Ponds P01 Create and manage V V V V Scrub SR01 Manage existing under rotation Bare Ground BG01 Create and manage V V V V Visitors V01 Site Patrols and security _ ,/ V02 Site presence and interpretation V V V03 Maintain views and vistas V V V V V V V V Estate & Equipment ES01 Erect and maintain new fencing V V ES02 Access and Furniture V V ES03 Acquire and maintain equipment V V Public _ PR01Relations Liaison – local landowners V V V PRO2 Liaison – Local Community ,/ V V PRO3 Liaison – Council Members & ` V V PRO4 LiaisonStaff – Authorities V V V V V PRO5 Reserve Safety V V V V CA01 Correspondence & Administration Research & Survey BS01 Botanical Surveys V V _ V V IS01 Invertebrate Surveys V V V V V V V V MS01 Mammal Surveys V V BDO1 Bird Surveys V V V VS01 Visitor Surveys V V V V WG01 Other groups/taxa V V V MP01 Revision of Management Plan
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Appendix 1 Map of Calthorpe Park Area
41 Calthorpe Park Development Plan 10 July 2013
Appendix 2 Lady Calthorpe’s Deed of Gift
This Conveyance is made this fourth day of June One thousand nine hundred and forty six BETWEEN THE HONOURABLE DAME RACHEL ANSTRUTHER-GOUGH-CALTHORPE the Wife of Sir FitzRoy Hamilton Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe Baronet of Elvetham Hall in the County of Southampton (hereinafter called “the Grantor”) of the one part and THE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL of Fleet in the County of Southampton (hereinafter called “the Council”) on the other part WHEREAS:-
(1) BY an Indenture (hereinafter called “the Settlement”) dated the Sixth day of March One thousand nine hundred and seven and made between the Right Honourable Augustus Cholmondeley Baron Calthorpe (hereinafter called “Lord Calthorpe”) of the one part and Walter Henry Octavious Duncombe and Ralph Richard Hinckes of the other part lands situate in the County of Southampton constituting and known as the Calthorpe Elvetham Estate (which Estate is hereinafter referred to as “The Settled Estate”) were by Lord Calthorpe limited and settled to uses under which on the death of Lord Calthorpe on the Twenty second day of July One thousand nine hundred and ten the Grantor became beneficially entitled to The Settled Estate as tenant for life in possession thereof--
(2) It was by the Settlement provided that certain powers additional to or larger than those conferred by the Settled Land Acts 1882 to 1890 should be exercisable by every tenant-for-life under the said Acts and. that the power of sale conferred by the said Acts should include and authorise (inter alia) a sale or grant for a nominal consideration or gratuitously of land in fee simple for a public park playground or pleasure ground or for any public charitable or local purpose in connection with or for the advantage of the persons residing on The Settled Estates either alone or in common with other persons or the general public and that all the powers which were conferred by the said Acts or by the Settlement by reference to or in extension of the powers of the said Acts might be exercised without giving any notice of the intention to exercise the same to any trustee or to any solicitor of any trustee------
(3) Immediately before the first day of January One thousand nine hundred and twenty six the said Ralph Tichborne Hinckes and Cresswell Augustus Cresswell (hereinafter called “the Trustees”) were the trustees of the Settlement for the purpose of the said Acts------
(4) BY a Principal Vesting Deed dated the Twenty fifth day of February One thousand nine hundred and twenty six and made between the Trustees of the one part and the Grantor of the other part the Trustees declared that the lands and other hereditaments and premises known as or held and enjoyed with the Calthorpe Elvetham Estate (being the Settled Estate) were vested in the Grantor in fee
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simple and that the Grantor should stand possessed thereof upon the trusts and subject to the powers an provisions upon and subject to which under the Settlement or otherwise the same ought to be held from time to time and that the Trustees were the trustees of the Settlement for the purposes of the Settled Land Act 1925 and that the additional or larger powers so as aforesaid conferred by the Settlement by virtue of the Settled Land Act 1925 operated and were exercisable as if conferred by that Act on a tenant for life ------
(5) The pieces of land situated in the Parish of Fleet in the County of Southampton intended to be hereby assured and delineated on the plan Appendixed hereto and thereon distinguished by green edging are parts of The Settled Estate and were comprised in the Settlement and the said Principal Vesting Deed------
(6) With a view to providing for the recreation of the persons residing on The Settled Estate and the general public and for the advantage of the same and in consideration of the performance and observance by the Council of the covenant on the part of the Council hereinafter contained the Grantor in pursuance of the hereinbefore recited powers in that behalf contained in the Settlement (but without monetary consideration) has determined to assure to the Council in manner hereinafter appearing the lands hereinafter more particularly described and the Council in pursuance of its powers under the Local Government Act 1933 or otherwise has agreed to accept the same subject to the covenant hereinafter contained------
N0W in pursuance of the said agreement and in consideration of the covenant by the Council hereinafter contained THIS DEED WITNESSETH as follows:-
1. THE Grantor in exercise of the powers in this behalf conferred upon her by the Settlement and of every or any other power her hereunto enabling hereby grants and conveys unto the Council ALL THOSE pieces of land situate in the Parish of Fleet (formerly as to part thereof in the Parish of Elvetham and as to the remainder thereof in the Parish of Crondall) in the County of Southampton and containing together Thirty four acres One rood and Nineteen perches or thereabouts more particularly described in the Schedule hereto and delineated
on the plan Appendixed hereto and thereon distinguished by green edging Excepting out of the portion of the said pieces of land which was formerly part of
the Parish of Crondall all mines and minerals mentioned in. Section 23 of the Copyhold Act 1894 lying at or below a depth of Two hundred feet from the surface of the said land and all rights end easements in relation to such excepted mines minerals end. other things as in the said Section mentioned provided nevertheless that such rights and easements shall be exercised by way of underground approach only and below the said depth of Two hundred feet (as such mines minerals and other rights and easements were reserved to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England as Lord's of the Manor and Hundred
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of Crondall by a Deed dated the Twenty third day of July One thousand eight hundred land ninety six on the enfranchisement of the same land) but with the benefit of the covenant by the said Commissioners for the payment of compensation in the last mentioned Deed contained in so far as such covenant relates to the said land TO HOLD the said pieces of land unto the Council in fee simple discharged as provided. by Section 72 of the Settled Land Act 1925 but subject to any tithe redemption. annuity charged in respect thereof------
2, FOR the benefit and protection of the Grantor her successors in title and her and their assigns owner or owners of The Settled Estate or any part thereof and so as to bind (so far as possible) the said pieces of land the Council hereby covenant With the Grantor in manner following (that is to say)------
(1) Forthwith to erect and for ever afterwards to maintain fences on all boundaries of the said lands the material height and design of such fences to be subject to the approval of the Estate Agent of the Grantor but post and rail fences of good quality. shall be considered suitable------
(2) That no trade or business shall be carried on upon the said lands ------
(3) That no public or religious meetings or public oratory of any description shall be permitted. or allowed upon the said lands but so nevertheless that religious or military services may be held thereon------
(4) That no motor racing or motor cycle racing or playing ball or other games with motor cycles or dog racing or horse racing shall be permitted or allowed upon the said lands------
(5) That no music or noise of any kind which is produced by mechanical power (other than loudspeakers at religious or military services. or for giving directions at athletic sports) shall be permitted or allowed upon the said lands
(6) That no public fairs of any description shall be permitted or allowed on the said lands and that in connection with any private fairs organised by any local or public body and held upon the said lands no strident roundabouts shall be permitted or allowed------
(7) That the said lands shall be used. only as a public park and recreation ground. For the for the District of Fleet and Crookham for the quiet and orderly pleasure and. Recreation of the public and that nothing shell be done or permitted thereon which may be or become a nuisance or annoyance to the Grantor or her successors in title or her or their assigns or her other lessees or tenants or the neighbourhood------
3. IT is hereby agreed and declared that the restrictive covenant contained shall be enforceable only by the person or persons for the time being entitled for an
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estate of freehold in possession to The Settled Estate or some part thereof or the receipt of the rents and profits thereof respectively------
4. THE Grantor hereby acknowledges the right of the Council to procure and delivery of copies of the said Deed of Enfranchisement dated the Twenty third day of July One thousand eight hundred and ninety six the Settlement a Conveyance of enfranchised copyholds dated the Twenty third day of July One thousand nine hundred and twelve and made between The Right honourable Somerset John Seventh Baron Calthorpe of the one part and the said Walter Henry Octavius Duncombe and Ralph Tichbourne Hinckes on the other part an Indenture of Appointment of New Trustees dated the the Second day of July One thousand nine hundred and seventeen and made between the Grantor of the first part and the said Ralph Tichborne Hinckes of the second part and the said Cresswell Augustus Cresewell of the third part regarding the said Principal Vesting Deed
IN WITNESS whereof the Grantor has her unto set her signature and seal and the Council have hereunto caused their Common Seal to be affixed the day and year first above written------
T H E SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO
Number on Ordnance Description Area in acres Survey Edition 109 3.294 110 Fish Pond. 304 119 2.591 120 6.081 Part 121 6.790 154 .568 154a .317 155 .418 156 Cricket and tennis ground 4.200 161 5.920 163 Football ground 2.534 164 1.351 A 34.368
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46 Calthorpe Park Development Plan 10 July 2013
Appendix 3 Fleet Town Council – Civic Event Policy Rev 3
1. Fleet Town Council (FTC) sets out below its proposals for the support of major open air community functions.
2. FTC has agreed to support four major annual events in pursuit of its vision of creating a more engaged community. These events are: 2.1. Fleet Festivities – held at the end of November/ early December, primarily located along Fleet Road and Gurkha Square. 2.2. Fleet Lions Firework Display – held in early November, relocated to Calthorpe Park in 2010 2.3. Fleet Carnival – usually held in July, to be relocated to Calthorpe Park from 2011 2.4. Fleet Half Marathon – held in March, to continue to be located in Calthorpe Park
3. FTC has identified these events to: 3.1. Maintain and enhance some traditional town focused festivities 3.2. Indirectly support local charities by supporting charitable events 3.3. Create a better sense of community, bringing Fleet’s residents together on a regular basis 3.4. Make Fleet an attractive visitor site. 3.5. Bring more people into Fleet and indirectly support our local businesses and retailers.
4. Fleet Town Council is developing a strategy for the more effective use of the limited open green space within the urban area 4.1. Fleet Town Council will support the use of all the parks for local community events of a scale appropriate to the size of the venue 4.2. Calthorpe Park is envisioned as providing the most appropriate open space to safely attract manageable crowds to participate in large locally organised charitable events 4.2.1 Annually the Firework Display, the Carnival and thr Half Marathon. 4.2.2 Occasionally, unique, special, celebratory events such as the Queen’s Jubilee. 4.3. In granting permission to use any land owned by FTC, the Council will place restrictions on: 4.3.1 The period of occupation of the site for assembling and dismantling equipment and displays 4.3.2 The hours that the event can take place 4.3.3 The time at which any music or lights must be turned off 4.3.4 The level of noise permitted by any loud speaker system measured as a prescribed level (dB) at the boundary fence to the park 4.4. In recognition of the covenants that exist on Calthorpe Park, the Town Council will undertake:
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4.4.1 not to permit more than five events in Calthorpe Park in any one calendar year 4.4.2. Not to allow any event on Calthorpe Park to continue beyond 9:30 pm.
5. FTC will not be the organiser of civic/charitable functions but will facilitate such events through: 5.1. Permission to use land held by FTC, 5.2. The awarding of grants and 5.3. Administrative support and advice.
6. FTC will not be the licensee of these events, but it will be incumbent upon the local organising body to secure any necessary licences or permissions outside the immediate use of the land authorised by FTC.
This policy does not impact on the existing use of the tennis courts, the hiring of sports pitches or on the leases applicable to FTFC or FCC
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Appendix 4 Checklist for the Park
Outdoor Sports Check
Venue: CALTHORPE PARK Day and Date:
Inspect YES / NO Grass Cut Pitch been Marked out Mole hills / rabbit holes cleared Any major dips of diverts filled in and safe Rubbish on the pitches (broken and normal) Dips in goalmouths acceptable Surface clear of water Pitch Playable
Comments:
Tennis Court/Park Comments:
Cleaning Inspection YES / NO Toilets are clean and flushed Taps run for 1 minute Pavilion Inspection Complete Maintenance and damage check Lighting check Emergency lighting check Electric meter reading Paving surrounding pavilion is clear of weeds
Comments:
Checked By: ______
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Appendix 6 CALTHORPE PARK PROJECTS CP = FTC DP = Dev Plan
Long term - 5 years + Medium term 2 -5 years Short term 1 -2 years
Project Title Timeframe Details Approx. Funding Potential Comments Cost £ Available funding
CP1 Multi age group playground Short term Provision for ages 2 - 12 200,000 N S106 FTC Capital Project – Fully funding accessible via cycle way
CP2 Youth Shelter/MUGA Medium term Provision for ages 13-17 50,000 N S106 FTC Capital Project – MUGA to funding be adaptation of 3rd Tennis Court or in close proximity of Tennis Courts. No floodlighting CP3 Resurface pitches Short term To improve poor pitches to 10,000 Y FTC FTC Priority Project - Grounds acceptable standard Earmarked Maintenance Reserves CP5 Drainage to Main Football Medium term Instal new drainage across 150,000 N S106 Football Foundation would fund Field football pitches funding 60% of costs – due to landfill issues specialist advice required on type of drainage required
CP6 Funding to support CP Short term Specialist support and small 10,000 N FTC FTC Grounds Maintenance Day Development Projects works to scope and deliver Reserves Rate - Authorised through RLA approved projects over plan Committee term (2K per annum)
DP1 CCTV Installation Short term Protect Park assets and deter 10,000 Y FTC FTC Capital Budget ( 3x CCTV anti-social behaviour Earmarked installations) Reserves
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DP2 Events Policy Short term Strengthen policy to prevent 0 Y N/A No cost damage to Park fabric at events DP3 Wildflower Meadow Short term Construction of Wildflower 2,000 Y FoCP Funding for seating, planting meadow and seating in SE Grants + via and construction in place. corner of Park CP6 Placement of dragon teeth and works to fix seating to concrete base not in budget. DP4 Outdoor Table Tennis Short term Provision of outdoor Table 1,000 Y FTC In 2013 FTC Budget if trial in Provision Tennis set for CP Earmarked Oakley Park successful Reserves DP5 Woodland SINC Planning Short term Project planning and costing 1,000 Y via CP6 Park Ranger support
DP6 Woodland SINC Project Medium term Delivery of Plan 2,000 N FoCP Labour would be by FoCP Grants/Fund volunteers but it is expected Raising + that some heavy via CP6 lifing/tooling/chainsaw hire would be required to complete projects. Therefore some bought in labour DP7 Wet Meadow Planning Short term Project planning and costing 1,000 Y via CP6 Park ranger support
DP8 Wet Meadow Construction Medium term Construction of Wet Meadow 30,000 N S106 Use of Merivale Field that and access broadwalks funding cannot be drained satisfactorily to provide a football pitch. DP9 Car Parking Upgrade Short term Increase Car Parking for users 2,500 N FTC Use of site that no longer has in NE corner Reserves trees that need to be protected.
DP10 Sensory Garden Medium term Formal garden - Fully 40,000 Y S106 Provison of Sensory Garden accessible to disabled and funding site fully accessible via elderly cycleway. Alternative to Views site. Funding reserved for use from Campbell Place S106 contribution
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DP11 Orienteering Course Medium term Fixed position Orienteering 1,000 N FoCP Use by Scouts and other Park course Grants/Fund groups for exploration of 36 Raising + acre site. FoCP project to via CP6 increase use of Park DP12 Adult Fitness Equipment Medium term All weather static wooden 10,000 N Grant / FoCP project to increase use of fitness equipment S106 Park funding DP13 New Park Pavilion Long term Construction of new Park 300,000 N Grant CP has no changing facilities or pavilion to accommodate FTFC pavilion for use by residents. and Park users on South Side Replacement in cooperation of park next to FTFC Pitch with FTFC would allow current FTFC park to serve as main carpark for CP and retirement of current clubhouse. DP14 Connect Cycle Way to Long term New surface to track on 150,000 N FTAP/HCC Extension of cycle way through Crookham Road eastern side of Park and new Funding east side of park to join gateways into Park to allow Crookham Raod and cycle access Basingstoke Canal path. Extension to HCC FTAP. DP15 Upgrade Jubilee Wood Short term Replacement tree protectors 1,000 N FTC Tatty netting is eyesore and not and bench Reserves consistent with a Jubilee project from FTC
TOTAL 971,500
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