Christchurch Borough Council is looking to make improvements to a local recreation ground and is asking local people their opinions on the suggested scheme.
Public consultation is about to start on proposals for improvements to Stanpit Recreation Ground which will enhance the appearance of the site and offer people greater enjoyment from this important local green space. It will also provide a richer and more varied environment for wildlife.
The scheme has been awarded £120,000 from developer funding collected to mitigate the impacts of housing development on local heathland. The key aim of the funding is to encourage the use of alternative sites in order to protect fragile heathland from more intensive use and the damage this can cause.
The suggested improvements include something for everyone. Dog walkers will benefit from a dog agility area, cyclists will have better facilities such as cycle racks and a priority lane, families will benefit from new play structures as well as new picnic areas, there will be improvements to vehicle and pedestrian access at the entrance and the car park will be made larger.
A more varied and attractive landscape will be created establishing patches of wild flowers and meadow alongside existing mown areas. It is hoped this will benefit wildlife and improve wildlife corridors to adjacent sites such as Stanpit Marsh.
Matti Raudsepp, Head of Leisure and Open Spaces for the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership said: “Stanpit Recreation Ground is a popular area and the proposed improvements will benefit a wide range of people. The consultation will help the Council understand how local people value the site and what they think of the proposals. We would encourage everyone with an interest in the site to give us their thoughts.”
The public consultation will run from 11 March to 31 May and responses can be given online at www.dorsetforyou.com/stanpitrec. Paper copies will also be available at the Civic Offices, Steamer Point and Stanpit Marsh Information Centres, Christchurch and Highcliffe Libraries and the Christchurch Information Centre.
