Agenda item

Parks Improvement Plans - access between canal and parks - ask Gerald

JW referred members to the updates on the Slough Canal Action Plan in the reports.

CRT stated that a planning application is due to be submitted this summer for long term development at the basin.  The CRT officers who deal with access are keen to see the proposals for the interface with Stoke Road which the LAF were consulted on, included in the planning application or championed by the Council’s planning team.

JW tabled the revised basin proposals plan which now shows a cycle hire docking station at the rear of the adopted footway outside the basin entrance.  The one car parking space remains with a lockable drop down bollard and bollards to define the walking and cycling access, though this is not a separate access as the LAF had wanted. 

Bowyer Playing Fields access points to the canal were acknowledged as currently being inadequate and segregating the park from the canal. OK stated that the Parks team have not yet had input into these proposals which incidentally do not make up the main SRP planning application but which it is hoped will feed into the main planning application as well as give direction for interim enhancements at the Basin prior to full development, which do not compromise the long term vision.  DDA compliance would be sought though problematic due to the difference in levels between this park and the towpath.

Once the full planning application is submitted, it will be important that the LAF is confident in knowing what it wants the area to be like in order to make relevant representations. 

TE was concerned that the LAF ensures that the opportunity to provide a unique public space and accessibility to the canal is not compromised by a development where the priority is focussed on private housing.  IH commented that the plan shows a wooden fence along the north side of the canal.  JW explained the idea of having a green corridor created on the north side of the canal whereby the CRT land alongside the canal is cleared and the boundary of the CRT land and the Housing owned green space behind are re-aligned.

OK asked where the process of consultation is in regards to the plans for long term development and these interim enhancements.  All agreed a consistent approach is needed.

Canal budget spend in 15/16 – JW asked for a steer from members on how to spend this year’s budget.

OK tabled the ideas that came out of the public consultation for Bloom Park which has an interface with the canal towpath.  There is S106 money available from the Middlegreen development to make improvements in key areas; play, drainage and pedestrian access.  OK stated that the Council is keen that master forward planning in all Slough parks is progressed to overcome historic problems of adhoc development in parks and also drive future funding bids.  There are no specifics yet, but ideas include improvements to the way the park integrates with the canal.  For instance creating managed breaks in the vegetation could open up surveillance between the two resulting in a safer environment.  OK felt that drawing together access benefits attached to improving integration between the park and canal would be very valuable in gaining future external funding.  Ideas would be firmed up over the next few months for Bloom Park specifically and OK welcomed input and joint working with the LAF. 

All agreed there are opportunities for the LAF to feed ideas into the Parks plan and provide their viewpoint on improving the infrastructure as opposed to using the money just to fund play areas.  Also that making the entrance points to the canal more inviting is fundamental to encourage use of the east-west travel corridor the canal represents.  DM raised the concern that clearance of vegetation will be vastly detrimental to habitat for wildlife.  OK confirmed that a balance must be achieved and that Parks are completely aware of the needs of ecology and environmental protection.  JW agreed to send around a draft of the LAF position on this consultation asking for members input so the LAF advice could then be sent to Parks.

Resolved – JW to bring update to next meeting on the progress of the planning submission, any updates from dialogue with the SRP and will continue liaising with CRT and Council’s Housing team to see what can be accomplished in the interim.