Minutes:
Photo Competition
A Parks Photo Competition was undertaken annually in Bracknell Forest. One hundred photos were entered into the ‘Capturing Biodiversity in the Natural World’ competition in 2010 and the winning entries were being displayed at South Hill Park until 3 April 2011. The top three winners, seven runners up and another seven added as well.
Forum members were invited to suggest themes for this year’s photo competition.
(Action: All)
Ideas upon which the 2011 photo competition could be based included:
Hugh Fitzwilliams’ suggested theme ‘Routes and Trees’ was favourably received by members and officers.
Entrants to the competition would need to sign a waiver or model release form to give permission for their photos to be publicised if they included recognisable images of people.
The South Hill Park Community Restoration project exhibition would be available from 16 April 2011 to 19 June 2011. Information regarding this could be found on South Hill Park’s website. The Bracknell Camera Club would be cataloguing the project from start to finish through a series of photos.
Britain In Bloom
Bracknell was named winner of the ‘small city’ class receiving gold in the RHS Thames and Chilterns in Bloom group. Bracknell also received the regional award for Best Floral Input and Best Portfolio City. Ranelagh School received a commendation in the Mark Mattock Schools Challenge Cup for horticultural and environmental achievement. Bracknell Town Council would take over the organisation for Britain in Bloom in Bracknell.
Bracknell Footpath 15
The temporary closure and diversion of Bracknell Footpath 15 was still in force whilst infrastructure road was constructed. A six month temporary traffic regulation order had been extended by the Secretary of State until October 2011 to allow for works to be completed. The one objection which had been received against the permanent diversion of Footpath 15 had been withdrawn, the order would be confirmed when the new path and footpath signage was in place.
Sandhurst Footpaths 4 and 15
Resurfacing works, funded by Ward Members, were being undertaken by Ringway from the southern end of the bridge to Perry Hill Drive. Modification orders needed to be investigated. The defined width of the footpath would be included in the Definitive Statement.
The landowner in the area of Sandhurst Footpath 15 had requested for the footpath to be removed. A Register of Modification Order Applications had been created and was available on Bracknell Forest Council’s website.
Bracknell Footpath 20
An application was awaited for a temporary closure to Bracknell Footpath 20 as Waitrose had expressed a wish to build a boardwalk over the footpath. The footpath would be closed for three months from after Easter until the end of summer. Agreement would be sought that the footpath would be well managed. It was suggested that Forum members could visit the site once completed.
Chaucer Woods
The Children’s Playground Company had installed new equipment in keeping with the woodland character, aimed at children up to 8 years of age. Design proposals for other areas of the park were awaited following recommendations received from a police neighbourhood inspector. Chaucer Woods in Crowthorne was owned by Wellington College and there was a S106 agreement in relation to providing recreational areas. The area was open to the public.
Lock’s Ride
Parish and Town Councils in Bracknell Forest had supported the implementation of improvements to Lock’s Ride following the receipt of Section 106 funding from Bracknell Forest Council. This site would be the last of the playbuilder sites in Bracknell Forest.
The Look Out
A project being undertaken at The Look Out with playbuilder funding was due to be completed soon.
South Hill Park
The new boardwalk opened at South Hill Park on 10 March 2011. Restoration work would continue along the terrace and it was planned that works to the front and rear of the Arts Centre would be completed by Easter 2011. Replanting and lake de-silting was being undertaken. The project had caught the attention of the Environment Agency which was impressed with the work being undertaken.
An arts design project would be utilised to create new signage and a sculpture. Sixty five design applications had been received and four people had been shortlisted for interview.
Work was being undertaken with Highways Engineers in relation to gateways on Ringmead and design of gate pillars close to the gas mains and BT cables. Links and crossing points would be transformed; there would be a new crossing point and a central point.
Savernake Pond
Thames Water had cleared over eight hundred tonnes of silt and rubbish out of Savernake Pond. Work was being undertaken to plant beds near to the car park, to improve the car park’s surface and repaint the red railings around the balancing pond to a green colour which better suited the character of the park.