Open Space Strategy Area Priorities and Actions Wyke Area Introduction This document is one of seven area priority and action plans which support the Open Space Strategy and should be read alongside the main document. The strategy sets standards for different types of open space, estimates needs for certain types of open space and proposes sites which could help address those needs. This document sets out details of actions within the Wyke Neighbourhood Committee area which will help to address those needs specific to this area. The plan contains actions to improve the green network and proposes sites for potential open space use where there is a deficit and methods to rationalise current provision in order to attain the highest possible quality provision within the area. Actions will be carried out by the Council and developers. The actions represent medium and longer term aspirations. Progress will be dependent on the rate at which development proposals come forward and are approved and implemented and the availability of Council resources to invest in open space. The strategy and action plans will be reviewed and updated every five years. General Description The Wyke area consists of the Newland, Avenue and Bricknell wards. It has a population of 33,109 (mid 2013 estimates). The area is a mix of housing types with terraces dominating the Newland ward and a varied mix of houses elsewhere. Industry within this area is restricted to the National Avenue area in the south of the Bricknell ward where a number of large and medium sized industries can be found. In the early 1900s, Newland was a separate parish, created from the drainage of the lowlands with the excavation of the Cottingham to Newland Dyke and the Beverley and Barmston Drain. This area has a large proportion of houses with large and spacious gardens that somewhat compensate for the lack of publically available green space in this ward area. Hull oldest park, Pearson Park, lies within the Avenue ward and is well used by residents across the Wyke area and further afield. Pearson Park offers a large playground, an ornamental pond, a Victorian Conservatory with plants and animals, a café and a bowling green. The Bricknell ward’s largest green space is Cropton Park, a well-used local park with a children’s play area, a small wooded area and sports fields to the north, this site links well with the wider countryside and Bricknell’s Children’s Wood via the Setting Dyke. Open space within the Newland ward to the north of the committee area is not abundant and accessibility issues are compounded by private ownership of sites. Green Infrastructure The Bricknell and Avenue wards lack linear connections to the wider green network with the exception of live and disused railway lines; a patchwork of sites are associated with the railway line including the cemeteries, and small green corridors extending as far as the city boundaries. Newland Ward is well connected to the Green Network with the River Hull running along the eastern boundary and the Beverley and Barmston drain cutting through the centre. 1 Accessibility Current accessibility standards Wyke Area (see table X) shows that a large proportion of green space within Newland, Avenue and Bricknell wards is not accessible to the public. The problem is further increased by the lack of availability of land to turn into a public open space. Table 1: Mid 2014 Accessibility Standards in the Wyke Area Committee Ward Total Publicly accessible Publicly accessible (hectares) (hectares) (percentage) Avenue 49.27 28.39 58% Bricknell 79.21 40.08 51% Newland 21.59 5.52 26% Current deficiencies Deficiencies identified in the 2014 open space audit are shown in Table 2. It shows that there is a deficiency in several of the typologies with a large deficit in amenity green space in particular. This needs to be taken into account when planning future investment in open spaces infrastructure. Much of the Wyke area whilst built up, generally benefits from large amounts of green space. Whilst not all sites are publically accessible at all times, the opening up of educational grounds to community groups generally satisfies the demand for formal sports provision. The creation of a new allotment site on Baker’s Field has provided additional plots that satisfy the waiting list in the area, never-the –less the area is largely deficient in amenity green space and semi-natural green space. Due to the lack of available land in the committee area the priority must be on raising the quality of existing sites and, where possible, provide additional green space sites. 2 Table 2: Mid 2014 Deficiencies in Provision within the Wyke Area Committee Open Space Typology Existing open Open space Hull Standard Open space surplus space provision ha/1000 (hectares) (hectares / 1000 people ) Agricultural 0.00 0 n/a Allotments 0.24 ha / 1000 people within a 20 minute 17.00 0.51 9.05 surplus walk (960m) Amenity Green Space 0.67 ha / 1000 people within a 10 minute 4.24 0.13 -17.94 large deficit walk (480m). Cemetery / churchyard 43.53 1.31 Children's play facility 0.030 ha / 1000 people within a 10 minute 0.60 0.018 -0.39 walk (480m). Civic space 0 n/a Educational grounds 35.89 1.08 n/a Green corridor 6.69 0.20 n/a Natural / semi -natural greenspace 0.62 ha / 1000 people within a 20 minute 6.73 0.20 -13.80 large deficit walk (960m). Outdoor Sports Facility 19.45 0.59 Park / garden 0.50 ha / 1000 people within a 20 minute 11.62 0.35 -4.93 deficit walk (960m). Private grounds 0.81 0.02 n/a Unclassified 3.30 0.10 n/a Young people's facility 0.023 ha / 1000 people within a 15 minute 0.22 0.01 -0.54 slight deficit walk (720m). Golf 5.23 0.16 n/a Outdoor Sports Facility (excl golf) + 1.68 ha / 1000 people, excluding golf 50.11 1.51 -5.51 deficit Educational grounds courses 3 Community Infrastructure Levy Projects 4 Pearson Park Pearson Park, located between Princes Avenue and Beverley Road, is the oldest of Hull’s four Victorian Parks and was gifted to the city by Zachariah Charles Pearson in 1860 when he was Lord Mayor. The park, covering 11 hectares, was designed by James Craig Niven, Curator of Hull's Botanic Garden. The Park is in now in the trust of Hull City Council via the board of the Pearson Park Trust which is supported by an active Friends of Pearson Park group. The site still exhibits its Victorian grandeur with wide grassed areas under mature trees; a small irregular-shaped lake is located in the southwest corner, a Conservatory, a rose garden and a well-equipped play area. Pearson Park still retains many of its historic features including the original perimeter carriage drive, a Grade II listed drinking fountain within the rose garden and Grade II listed statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Other historical features include a monolith commemorating Zachariah Charles Pearson, an artificial mound covered in shrubbery which hosts the cupola taken from the old town hall in 1912 and an ornamental gateway to the east. The Park is surrounded by large Victorian houses in one of which the poet Philip Larkin once lived. A lottery-funded wet woodland saw the planting of an arboretum to the west of the lake; this forms a small area of semi- natural habitat and is an educational resource for park users. The site has two bowling greens and associated pavilion. Formal play provision takes the form of a large well-equipped enclosed children’s playground, an informal MUGA with basketball rings and 5 a side goals, and a multi gym. Assessment of the equipment on site indicated that retaining logs are rotted and need parts renewing or replacing and play bark levels are insufficient in areas. Hull City council are leading a Heritage Lottery Funded Parks for People scheme that is set to rejuvenate the park. The bid concentrates on restoring the heritage assets, whilst also supporting the greater involvement of local communities within park activities. A second stage bid has been submitted and an announcement regarding its outcome is expected in early 2017 5 Potential Existing Funding REF Description Justification Total Cost alternative Ward Commitment gap funding The Pearson Park project involves the restoration and refurbishment of the first public park in Hull, which is located in an increasingly diverse, but vibrant part of the city. The Park will be a major community focus for the City of Culture activities in 2017. £2,343,000 The project aims to restore and conserve heritage from HLF and None WK2 Repair and rejuvenate park. assets, increase visitor numbers, promote learning and £2,598,000 agreed identifie None Avenue skills development and encourage community £255,000 from d involvement and engagement in the park. HCC The project will also complement but is separate to, works being undertaken as part of the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage project and will aim to share learning wherever possible. The wildlife garden has the potential to become an invaluable educational resource for the local community and educational establishments. Development to the wildlife site including biodiversity enhancements, together with improved education and visitor facilities £35,000 from WK10 Development of the wildlife garden £250,000 £215,000 Avenue are proposed. This will provide improved education and landfill tax visitor facilities on the site leading to an improved community programme of activity / engagement. Improvements will complement the proposed Heritage Lottery proposals for the wider Pearson Park area.