Friday, 27 January 2017

Town Council Report: Holdingham Sleaford (Woodside)

I have put the report below into the Town Council after a visit around the Holdingham Ward.

Full Council: Agenda Item
Report: Holdingham Ward: Woodside Open/Play Area

Post Note: A Working Group has been set up, by the Sleaford Town Council, to review how the site might be better used by the Community.

Main Text: This report stems from a visit to the Woodside Play area on 23 January 2017. It also covers Peterborough Way to Winchester Way through to Birchwood Road and entrance to the Woodside Play Area via Summerfield Drive. Litter generally low but some Cartons on entrance to Lincoln Road onto Peterborough Way. Otherwise litter free on this route. 

On the Open Space itself new trees have been planted (12 near Summerfield Drive entrance and 18 approx at the Beech Rise end of the Open Space). Photographs are attached. Mole Hills cover much of the area.

All straps/ties seemed intact. The play area seemed functional. There were a few signs of dog litter.
The STC official description is: Comprising of a 5.5 acre grassed area this site is located alongside Sleaford Wood which is managed by the Woodland Trust. Access is from Beech Rise and Summerfield Close.  At this time the only facilities are:  Multi-play Unit
Dogs are welcome in the Woodside Play Area.  It is against the law to allow a dog to foul a public space and not clear up after them, bins for disposing of dog waste are provided at the entrances.

Issues
The good condition of the newly planted trees may be partly due to lack of use of the area (compared say to the Lincoln Road area). There is still the problem of access (Beech Rise or through the Sleaford Wood/Summerfield Drive side). Ownership of access appears largely outside the control of STC.

Conclusion
Still appears as a much underused facility:  this might be improved if access and “policing” could be further addressed.

The roads mentioned above from Peterborough Way appear generally clean and well kept. 






2 comments:

Unknown said...

We love the tree's that have been planted so far, the diverse colours have been well chosen. The benches are being used by the residents around the field and visitors to the area too. A couple more picnic tables would be nice for families who wish to have a picnic in the warmer weather. It would be nice to have a pond for all the frogs we get in our gardens, they travel from the ditch that runs along the side of the wood to our gardens and many of us who have small ponds in our gardens have frog spawn and tadpoles in them this time of year. A pond would encourage a lot more wildlife to the area and the local children would enjoy pond dipping like the events that are run at Lollycocks. Maybe you would also like to consider a communal garden where local schools and Nurseries could come and learn about growing vegetable and flowers. Or maybe a Steel Fitness Trail. The kind they have for people to keep fit on in city parks without having to pay for expensive gym memberships. Just a few ides for you to consider.

John Charlesworth said...

Thanks Dee: I have passed your comments to the Group of Town Councillors looking at this important community land. Its status needs protecting.