Residents formed three
discussion groups to come up with possible solutions to the recognised
problems.
PRINCIPLE:
- IMPROVED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CHILDRENS PLAY. (Recognition of how lucky we are to have the green.)
·
Climbing equipment
for older children
·
Fenced off swings
(keep the big swings)
·
Maintenance and
cleaning (broken glass)
·
Gates that close
properly
·
Keep bushes but keep
them low
·
Mend and maintain
railings
·
Budget to mend
equipment
·
‘Themed’ play
equipment e.g. Pirate ship
·
Collect photos of
good play equipment
·
Keep a large grassy
area
·
Better seating in the
children’s play area
·
Space for children to
cycle
PRINCIPLE:
- KEEP DOG EXERCISE AREA BUT
MAKE IT MORE USABLE
·
Poo bins with plastic
bags
·
Dog warden to visit
and educate
·
Impose fines
·
Put up notice to say
dogs use this area
·
Put in a ‘litter’
area and train dogs to use it before exercising
·
Some re-planting
(scented) – not too high and not too prickly
·
Improve lighting inc.
high and low lighting
·
Sarah Thorley is
willing to be dog liaison person (23 Holmewood Gardens)
ISSUE:
- ADULT PARK USERS
PRINCIPLES:
- ADULTS CAN SIT IN A PEACEFUL
PARK AND RELAX
·
Better seating (some
in the shade)
·
Community notice
board (locked)
·
Better all year
planting
Prostitution
Parking
Vandalism
Lighting
Burglary
Obstruction of pavements
Dark hiding places
PRINCIPLES:
- A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT
FOR ALL LOCAL AND NON LOCAL USERS. (There is concern about creating an area
that has no access to resident drivers, emergency vehicles, deliveries,
visiting relatives and friends.)
·
Cameras
·
Narrow pavements and
thorny bushes to deter prostitutes
·
Remove sitting areas
such as bike stands to deter prostitutes
·
Co- ordinate/ better
neighbourhood watch
·
Create more parking
space ‘FREE’ to enable residents to park outside their house
·
Improved lighting
·
Create one way
traffic around the gardens
·
Trim (Cut down shrubs
to improve visibility
·
Slow traffic to allow
safe crossing (ensuring access for rubbish collection/ambulance/fire engine and
deliveries
·
Improve driver safety
by removing obstructions such as trees and double parked vehicles.(Safety
should be a priority over looks)
·
Use the neighbourhood
newsletter for resident suggestions
PRINCIPLES:
- ELIMINATION OF NON LOCAL
TRAFFIC
·
One entrance-
Possible road closures are Holmewood Road, Cotherstone Road, Maplestead Road
and Roupell Estate.
·
Controlled access
·
Speed limits
·
Inconvenience
motorists to put off non resident drivers
ISSUE:
- TRAFFIC
PRINCIPLES:
- REDUCE TRAFFIC SPEED
SOLUTIONS:
-
·
Speed limits
·
Vertical deflections
e.g. road humps or speed tables
·
Horizontal
deflections Chicanes etc.
·
Single track priority
·
One way system
·
Single surface shared
space
ISSUE:
- PARKING
PRINCIPLES:
- THERE IS ENOUGH PARKING FOR
RESIDENTS. IT NEEDS TO BE MANAGED
·
Parking restrictions
·
Time restrictions
·
CPZ residents parking
optional/individual
·
Redesign parking
layout – Conventional both sides, single side, chevron parking, one way
restricted carriageway with double sided parking
·
Use green as a car
park (underground)
P l a
y g r o u n d q u e s t i o n n a i r
e s
38 questionnaires.
Kristin Stott carried out
a small questionnaire over the course of several days at various times of the
day. The aim of the questionnaire was to find out parents, children,
grandparents, and carer’s views on the play area in Holmewood gardens. From the
responses given 69 children were represented from the following age groups;
Age 1-3 31
Age 3-5 15
Age 5-10 19
Age 10+ 4
The general feeling is
that the children have a lovely space to play but it needs improvement. The equipment
is battered, in need of repair; limited, dangerous are just some comments from
the questionnaires. Lack of maintenance is a problem and there is often broken
glass around the play equipment.
Parents and guardians
would like to see the railings fixed, with closing gates and speed restrictions
imposed around the gardens.
When asked for ideas on
how to improve the play area the most popular words used were adventurous,
imaginative, themed. The residents would like to see a wider variety of
play equipment for all ages with more physically demanding challenges for older
children.
Listed below are some
ideas the residents have for improving the play area;
·
Separate Toddlers
play area and junior play area
·
Up to date equipment
·
Swings infant and junior-
it is thought that the space is large enough that these could be placed apart.
·
Railing around
toddlers play area
·
Monkey bars
·
Rocking toys
·
Sand pit
·
Paddling pool
·
Climbing frames for
different age groups (themed to enhance imaginary play e.g. ship or castle
·
Bigger slide
·
Hop scotch
·
Roundabout with
pedals
·
Picnic area
·
Perimeter tarmac path
for bike riding
·
See – saw
·
Wildlife area
·
Climbing net
·
Tunnels
·
Integrate trees with
playground (seats, camps, rope swings/ladders)
·
New safety surface
·
Football net
·
Basketball net
·
Bright fresh colours
·
Better seating for
adults
·
Toilets
·
Cafe
·
Dissuade night time
visitors
FOOTBALL and HIDE AND SEEK
are popular with the older children however it is felt that this could be
separated from the little ones.
Suggested examples of
successful play areas from questionnaires:
Streatham Common
Wandsworth Common
Kiing Georges Park
Cowley Estate
Ideas for group activity
10 o’clock club with
bikes, cars, buggies etc.
Saturday morning summer
scheme