Agenda item

The Parks and Landscape Manager gave a presentation in respect of the Masterplan for Stoke Park, which was one of the largest parks in Surrey and received 250,000 visits per annum improving Guildford as a place to live and work.  The presentation outlined links with the Corporate Plan, the consultation and evidence base, key outcomes for development, strategy for delivery, proposed Masterplan brief, delivery and resources.  It also posed three questions for the EAB to consider around the evidence base, the proposed brief as set out in Section 4 of the summary paper and the proposed strategy for delivery as set out in Section 5 of the paper.

Producing a Masterplan for Stoke Park to make it a vibrant community park and visitor destination was an objective in the Corporate Plan.  The consultation had been completed with a representative sample of the Borough’s residents, including both users and non-users, and clubs and stakeholders.  In total 1,968 responses were received and analysed revealing that consultees had a very positive perception of the park.  There had also been Green Flag assessment and feedback and officer input to strengthen the evidence base.  Key outcomes for development, improvement and investment in play areas, catering and toilet facilities, parking provision, protection and enhancement of the park’s heritage, protection of nature and the environment, enabling events, provision of sports pitches and facilities, and use and development of existing buildings.  The strategy for delivery featured the Masterplan, wider parks strategies and day to day management.  The proposed Masterplan brief covered the whole park and included catering, the play area, parking, heritage, hard infrastructure, nature and wildlife, and the park’s assets.  Delivery featured a programme of projects which would take up to 15 years to provide and require significant capital investment and funding.  The process for delivery featured resources and governance, Masterplan procurement, production of the Masterplan, developing business cases, and commissioning and delivery.  Additional officer and external technical resources were required.  The additional officer resource would be a Stoke Park Project Officer overseen by a Project Board including councillors followed by the procurement of viable schemes.  The provisional capital bid needed approval and options and business cases required further development as work proceeded.

Arising from questions and discussion, the following points arose:

·                  Stoke Park was visited by people living outside the Borough in addition to local residents.

·                  Although parking, which was concentrated at the western end of the Park, was an issue when the Park was in full use, it was felt that alternative options and locations should be explored before the parking capacity was increased as this would reduce the size of the Park.  The location of any additional parking would need to be considered.  The consultation responses indicated that 50 per cent of Park users travelled there by car and most of the rest on foot.  It was felt that sustainable transport, in particular use of bicycles and trains instead of cars, should be encouraged.

·                  A community café featuring the history of the Park was welcomed and would be an attraction.

·                  Feedback from people with disabilities was that accessibility was not a strong feature of the Park and this was addressed in the Masterplan.  The Guildford Access Group could assist in this area and the sensory garden and accessible play equipment could be improved.

·                  The Masterplan was sensitive to the desire to retain the green areas of the Park and use of the plant nursery area could be improved as an attraction.

·                  Officers were complimented on the thorough consultation exercise, responses from which indicated that the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley was the most favoured alternative destination where there was plenty of parking and play facilities which were an attraction.

·                  It was felt that all existing facilities at the Park should be retained and the priorities of addressing the play area, catering and then the parking situation were supported.

·                  The budget for the Masterplan through to the delivery of some of the projects was £500,000.  Work on any project found to be unviable would be discontinued and resources applied to another project.  Concern was expressed that further details of the Masterplan would be required before agreeing to such a large spend.

·                  Although the level of cycling to access the Park was low, there were cycleways through the Park linking London Road, the Spectrum and tow path.  Increased connectivity was sought.

·                  As the Park could facilitate a wide range of activities, it was possible that conflicting and competing preferences may arise.

·                  The Park was not financially self-supporting although income was derived from the hire of sports pitches and catering.

·                  The possible introduction of some allotments at the park was suggested.

·                  There was scope to improve health and wellbeing through organised activities such as park runs.

·                  Historic memorabilia could be gathered to celebrate the Park’s forthcoming 100 year anniversary of being in Council ownership.

·                  Consideration would need to be given to promoting and marketing the Park.  

Having been thanked by the Lead Councillor for its useful comments, the Board expressed support for the Masterplan and a wish to be involved in the further stages of the Park’s development.