Four Marks Parish Council

It was hoped to have the BMX track up and running by the time the school summer break started, but getting the funding in place has taken an exceptional amount of time. We are almost at work in progress, the ground will be prepared at the beginning of August, and we have one more funding meeting to attend, completion is hoped before school starts again.

OAK GREEN PARADE PROJECT

Well, it looks like visible improvements to the area are not far off and the Oak Green Improvement Project has real momentum now. First of all, a big thanks to everyone who gave us feedback on the draft design. We received a total of 41 completed feedback forms and spoke to at least another 30 residents at the display meeting in April. We also received some comments by e-mail.  Although the total number of forms may not be all that large, the issues are pretty clear and the Parish Council has decided to use the comments to move on to the next phase of the project

 Summary of Residents Feedback

Here are the results from the 5 questions:

 Q1 What do you think of the draft Design Plan?

Q2 What do you like about the proposed design?

Here are a selection of the many comments we received:

 A great improvement on the current disgrace

Modern, tidy and clean looking

Looks like a good attempt to improve the amenity at the front of the Parade. Garden area would be particularly attractive

It’s not too fussy, the trees on the front

Paving and greenery

The landscaping and less emphasis on parking – the whole area looks far more attractive

Modern attractive

I particularly like the shelter - will be helpful and pleasant for the elderly

Good seating area/bus shelter/green area. Nice to see rear of shops being used”

 Q3 Are there things you don’t like about the design  - any suggestions for improvements?

No further parking capacity! – when there is a chance to improve this now – we will see much more parking problems

The seating area could encourage vandalism and youngsters

Not enough parking – it is a major problem now – the shopkeepers already have a problem with this

Slight concern over shelter and potential gathering point for undesirables

Lower the grass bank to improve visibility

Could more parking be achieved at the back

Area outside Tesco shop needs amalgamating with Parish proposal

Extend the parking area ensuring there is a dedicated IN and OUT lane

No I like it as it is – too many options will end up with nothing getting done for years”

Q4 Are you in favour of having seats in the focal point area near the bus stop?

Yes                  33  (80%)

No                   7    (20%)

Q5 Do you have a preference for the parking options at the side?

90 deg parking                                    26  (63%)

Two rows parallel parking                    5   (12%)

What Happens Now?

On July 13^th we had a meeting with Mark Kemp-Gee our County Councillor and Pat Seward from the District to discuss funding for the project. Mark commented that the project is being very well received at the County and there is a good chance we could get a grant for up to £65,000  but it will be October or November before we get confirmation. Together with funds from the Parish Council, the District and some of our Developers Contribution reserves it looks like we could be in good shape to fund the improvements.

 We hope to use Terrafirma who prepared the initial design to proceed with more detailed design plans with some changes, based on residents’ feedback. These will include:- lowering the grass bank, retaining the focal point area but making it smaller to try and fit in a few more parking spaces at the front, improving the width of the car park entrance and trying to get at least another six parking spaces at the back of the shops by extending into the green area currently owned by EHDC.