Settlement Name Potton

Settlement Hierarchy Minor Service Centres

Placemaking Area North

Population 2011 Census 4,870

2021 Population 5,450

Settlement Description

Centred on an historic market square, Potton has been substantially expanded and consolidated by modern estate-scale development and infill in recent years. Much of the central area however, retains its traditional historic character and there are now many busy shops and public amenities.

The open space sites listed below have been included because of their primary function as publically available recreational open space only. The open space types reflect those most commonly found in Central Bedfordshire. More information on the background and assessment methodology can be found in the Leisure Strategy Chapter 2: the Recreational Open Space Strategy.

Section 1: Open Spaces within Town

Site Name Typology Owned by Site Site ID Size Ha.

Allotments & Community Everton Road Allotments PTC 1.16 636 Gardens

St. Mary's Church Cemeteries & Burial Grounds Diocese 0.43 632

Potton Cemetery Cemeteries & Burial Grounds PTC 1.22 1256

Garden Fields Play Area Children's Play Space Developer 0.04 635

Henry Smith Playing Fields Children's Play Space PTC 0.22 317 Play Area

Nursery Close Play Area Children's Play Space 0.03 517

Mill Lane Play Area Children's Play Space PTC 0.17 637

Sheepwalk Close Play Area Children's Play Space Developer 0.04 650

Wingfield Drive Play Area Children's Play Space CBC 0.31 633

Henry Smith Playing Field Facilities for Young People and PTC 0.08 4189 Wheels Park Teenagers

Potton Wood Informal Recreation 94.13 631

Woodland to the north of Informal Recreation 8.95 4570 Potton (permissive access)

Henry Smith Playing Fields Larger Recreation Spaces PTC 2.16 263

Mill Lane Recreation Ground Large Recreation Spaces PTC 2.06 1252

1 Potton Federation Playing Outdoor Sport (Education) Education 3.52 642 Fields

The Hollow Tennis courts Outdoor Sport Club 0.23 646

The Hollow Football & Cricket Outdoor Sport (Club) Club 3.78 645 Ground

Potton Bowling Green Outdoor Sport 0.33 641

Mill Lane/Festival Road Small Amenity Space PTC 0.12 638 Amenity Space

Sheepwalk Close Amenity Small Amenity Space Developer 0.02 649 Space

Sycamore Close Amenity Small Amenity Space PTC 0.06 643 Space

Mayston Close Amenity Small Amenity Space 0.14 4295 Space

Myers Road Amenity Space 1 Small Amenity Space 0.07 4452

Myers Road Amenity Space 2 Small Amenity Space 0.07 4537

Carters Lane, Shefford Close Small Amenity Space 0.04 4337 Amenity Space

Shefford Close Amenity Small Amenity Space 0.13 4338 Space

Baker Avenue/Chapman Small Amenity Space 0.03 4339 Close Amenity Space

Hatley Road Amenity Space / Small Amenity Space 0.41 4356 St Mary's Church car park

Judith Gardens Amenity Small Amenity Space 0.03 4491 Space

Festival Road Amenity Space Small Amenity Space 0.08 4367

Site ownership has been included where known, and will continue to be updated.

2 Section 2: Recreational Open Space Strategy - Adequacy of Provision (balance between quantity / quality and accessibility)

Current Future Current Type of Open Space Standard Surplus / Surplus / Accessibility Quality Issues Other Issues Provision Shortfall Shortfall Countryside Residents just Recreation Sites outside 20 minute catchment to existing countryside recreation site. Nearest facility 0.00 3.19 -15.54 -17.39 is RSPB lodge, n/a which has limited capacity for visitors due to environmental and conservation functions. Urban Parks No existing Green Infrastructure provision and plan highlights residents intention to create outside of formal community 0.00 0.22 -1.07 -1.20 desired walking n/a garden, possibly on distance, as part of Henry Smith well as car Playing Fields travel time to urban park. Large Formal Some residents Consultation and GI Replace Henry Smith Recreation 4.22 1.20 -1.62 -2.32 outside of plans highlight playing fields fencing catchment for aspirations for more and gates, and Brook

3 Areas large formal facilities on existing End Rec Gnd fencing. recreation sites. Henry Smith areas, but Playing Fields falls Brook End Playing recreation area marginally below Fields underground on High Street target quality tunnel will need is accessible to standards while the reinstating or the majority Hollow is above removing completely. standard. Brook End playing field in need of improvement works or removal. Informal Informal space Only site in the town Green Infrastructure located too far has high Plan highlights east of Potton environmental aspiration to create so most sensitivity, restricting community woodland residents access. Potton Wood beside Potton Brook. outside of is a large site also There are also 103.08 2.60 90.42 88.91 catchment. providing several other opportunities aspirations to increase community parkland and to link more formal recreational amenities by this parkland Small Amenity Limited access Quality and Spaces for many functionality limited – 1.26 0.55 -1.42 -1.74 residents Sheepwalk Close, Station Road and The Green all below target quality standards Play Areas for Adequate All sites just below Replacement Children 0.81 0.11 0.27 0.21 distribution of target quality equipment required facilities – standard. for Mill Lane

4 almost all Improvements Recreation Ground residents within needed at Mill Lane catchment Recreation Ground Facilities for Young Majority of Functional skate park Town plan identifies People residents in need for additional 0.08 0.01 0.06 0.05 settlement are facilities – extension outside of to skate park and catchment for centrally located facility MUGA Allotments Identified unmet Site quality above Further allotments demand. 13 on target level. Security area required. waiting list is key area for currently and improvement, as well 1.26 0.55 -1.42 -1.74 believed to be as noticeboards and scope to signage increase participation further Cemeteries and Extension of existing burial ground does not look possible. Churchyards New land is being sought for an additional burial ground.

5 Section 3: Recreational Open Space Strategy - Key Issues, Priorities and Delivery Projects

Key Priorities Local Delivery Projects Typology Specific Type of Open Space Key Issues identified by (identified by the T/PC & community) Priorities Strategy Project Cost must be included Countryside Lack of access to Priority locations Recreation Sites countryside identified within recreation sites strategy (outside within target Potton) which will distance threshold address this issue – contribution towards new provision Urban Parks No existing Strategy seeks to provision prioritise provision of urban parks in major settlements and new provision not required therefore. Large Formal There is a lack of New provision 1. Large recreation Replace Brook End Rec Gnd fencing: Recreation access to existing Improvements to area – extension £3,432 Areas formal recreation existing sites or new Replace Henry Smith Playing Fields grounds for some fencing and gates: £10,720 residents and Possible removal of underground tunnel at despite adequate Henry Smith Playing Fields: £350 provision in quantitative terms, there is also expressed demand for further formal recreation provision Informal Some gaps in Enhance existing 2. Enhanced routes access to the west spaces and improve to existing of the town and access to facilities informal spaces aspirations for the

6 creation of further Potton Brook / Potton informal open Wood space. New informal space, particularly to the west

Small Amenity Spaces Large quantitative New provision, linked 3. New amenity deficiencies of with requirements for space should be small amenity large recreation areas considered spaces in and informal comparison to recreation areas other areas and some gaps in access to facilities.

Play Areas for Children Good distribution of Replacement 4. New play Replacement equipment for Mill Lane facilities. Quality of equipment for Mill equipment needed Recreation Ground play area. £75k equipment at Mill Lane Recreation Lane Recreation Ground play area Replacement of safety surfacing at Mill Ground is an issue. Lane and Henry Smith Recreation Ground play areas. £45k. Facilities for Young TC identifies New skate park and 5. New/improved Installation of MUGA at Biggleswade People requirement for a MUGA skate park Road. £41,695. new skatepark and Longer term new MUGA. Gaps additional facilities to in access to improve access existing provision but limited quantitative shortfalls

Allotments Waiting lists (13) Introduction of new and demand management estimated to practices to reduce

7 increase demand. If this does not address issue, longer term, additional allotments required to meet demand (at least 20 plots) Cemeteries and Additional burial £520k for a new burial site. Churchyards facilities required. TC actively seeking land.

Connectivity Connectivity is one of the key principles of the Potton Green Infrastructure plan, with the majority of actions relating to the improvement of existing and / or creation of new footpaths.

8 Section 4: Playing Pitch Strategy - Outdoor Sports Key Issues, Priorities and Delivery Projects

Sport / Facility Site and Comments Local Delivery Projects (identified by the T/PC & community) Project Cost must be included

NB See Chapter 3 Playing Pitch Strategy Action Plan for outdoor sport strategic priority projects to which s106 contributions may be secured from development in this parish.

T/P councils wishing to have s106 contributions sought for the local projects instead of the strategic projects must clearly identify this below.

AGP Biggleswade/Sandy/East Beds corridor - The Football Association’s priority to deliver a FS FTP in this area to address team growth.

Football High demand for junior pitches and junior teams using adult Requirements identified by Potton Town Council: pitches. New multi-sports facility at Potton Federation School - The Hollow, Potton – lower levels of use, available at peak £240k time. Mill Lane Rec, Potton – capacity issues and aspirations for additional club to play in area Biggleswade/Sandy/East Beds corridor - The Football Association’s priority to deliver a FS FTP in this area. The Football Association’s priority to deliver a FS FTP in Biggleswade/Sandy/A1 East Beds corridor. FA considers location close to A1 is optimum for accessibility. Potton Federation School – project to deliver AGP on school site for school and community use

9 Cricket The Hollow – Potton CC has expressed capacity issues Requirements identified by Potton Town Council and Cricket Club: 1. The complete replacement of the worn out net area - cost 12k. 2. The installation of own water and electric supply - cost 3k. 3. Finishing the refurbishment of the old changing rooms to provide separate facilities for females and U16 players in adult cricket - cost 2.5k. Improving the entrance to The Hollow and the track to the cricket and tennis club facilities. This last item is to the benefit of all the users of The Hollow - cost 7k.

Rugby n/a closest Biggleswade RUFC

Hockey n/a closest Sandy and Shefford HC

Tennis Potton TC – overhanging trees create moss. Potential for site relocation.

Tennis: club experiencing quality issues

MUGA: facility derelict/unusable. Site poor – surface affected by neighbouring large trees. Remedial works not possible - complete replacement required. No funding available for MUGA provision, does not support strategic need for football facilities. Bowls Potton BC – concerns about long term future of club Requirement identified by Potton Bowls Club:

Works to clubhouse needed in next 3-4 years, including new ladies changing room £8,000, new flooring in the toilets £3,000, new surfacing for the car park £8,500. The club will fund £4,000. s106 required £12,000.

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