1st August 2006

There is currently a consultation going ahead regarding Stratford Park (i). This is one of the key assets of the District and the Green party welcomes the consideration being given to improving the site.

Below we outline some of our initial thoughts and are keen to discuss these matters further.

Cllr. Philip Booth
On behalf of the Green party group of Stroud District councillors


1. Listing

- The outdoor pool should be listed: however we should ensure that changes may be possible within the listing so that the diving boards can be used.

- key trees should be listed. We fully support the current project to label/identify trees.

2. Emphasis on creative play: creating playful environments means following children's instincts and creating neighbourhood spaces where kids can play daily in natural outdoor settings. Freiburg in Germany for example have stopped installing off-the-shelf artificial play areas and instead create "nature playgrounds": landscapes full of mounds, ditches, logs, fallen trees, boulders, bushes, wild flowers and dirt. Children love them, and they are cheaper to build than conventional play areas.

See articles:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1541383,00.html
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=481

3. Solar heating of pool to extend swimming period. We would also welcome considering the feasibility of a project like Woking Borough's combined heat and power system (CHP) which was built at their swimming pool complex and has cut costs significantly and cut CO2 emissions by 77%.

See more at:
Woking Borough's CHP
PDF file at:dodfuelcell.cecer.army.mil/climate/reports/40609_Final.pdf

4. Improve leisure centre booking.

5. Beeches Green road: a number of people report that the walk from Stroud to Stratford Park is particularly poor. The crossing is dangerous as cars do not appear to notice the lights and the lights take too long to change for pedestrians. We would welcome consideration be given to a shared spaces approach that could improve the area for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Shared Spaces approach to road engineering:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=835&Itemid=2

6. Improve access from surrounding areas by provision of safer and signposted routes using the existing network of paths that lead to Stratford Park. This was an issue raised in the local Parish Council covering Whiteshill. The pedestrian entrances to the park are also very poor.

7. Access to skate park facilities: some 'big children' at skate park intimidate smaller ones so that they feel they cannot use the facilities. How can this situation be improved? Better monitoring or a specific time for younger children?

8. Aim for low carbon gardening/maintenance:

-  Look at developing more low maintenance, high biodiversity/natural areas in the park rather than high maintenance designs.

- Reduce pesticide and herbicide use. New studies for example reveal that Roundup, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, poses serious human health threats.
http://www.biosafety-info.net/article.php?aid=267
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title2/service185.htm

Other glyphosate factsheets:
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/glyphosate2.htm
http://www.guarding-our-earth.com/aggrand/roundup.htm

9. Museum exhibition space: we welcome the high standards of exhibitions in the museum and it's approaches to attracting different sections of the community. It has also been good to see the exhibition space being used for local artists; this encourages greater awareness of the museum by bringing in people who would otherwise not visit the museum exhibits. We would welcome more activities like this.

10. Bands/music in the park; such community use of the park is to be welcomed and encouraged.


Notes:

(i) Background to consultation

Stroud District Council (SDC) is currently undertaking the background research and consultation for the development of a cultural masterplan for Stratford Parkand the cultural assets within it. To advance this work SDC was awarded a grant of £45,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund in late 2005 to fund studies about:

•     the significance of the Park landscape, Museum, Collections and historic buildings/structures and how they can be managed in the future
•     how access can be improved for users to the park and other assets
•     how the user experience can be developed, and new audiences attracted to the park, museum and other facilities
•     and to develop an outline Masterplan for the Park and Museum

SDC recruited PLB Ltd (www.plbltd.com), and Redkite Environment Ltd (www.redkite-environment.co.uk) to undertake the work to produce studies to inform potential future work on the site. This research work is now underway, and is expected to be complete by mid September 2006.