Agenda item

Richard Walton updated the forum on the new ‘Green Spaces strategy’ which was soon to go out for consultation – details of which were circulated in the agenda.

The strategy had four main topics:

• Children and Young People:

      This theme focuses on trying to find appropriate areas for this group to 

       enjoy the outdoors.

• Children’s play:

      This theme focuses on reversing the risk averse attitude of children today.

• Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage:

      This theme focuses on improving and preserving these factors and the role

      green space has in adapting to climate change

• New Development:

With the increasing need for housing in the South East over the next two to three decades, it would be imperative that the Green Spaces Strategy be formulated to incorporate the high housing targets of the borough. As a result this theme would focus on increasing collaboration between the council and developers to try and improve the appearance and effectiveness of green spaces. This was particularly true of ‘back land sites’ – areas where scrap land had become designated green space, and subsequently become areas which attracted vandalism and other forms of antisocial behaviour.

A member of the forum inquired what the Green Spaces Strategy would offer elderly people. Richard Walton explained that part of the action plan was to try and ensure that infrastructure of the strategy served the whole population. This would include the provision of good entrances to sites, improved surfaces, drainage, adequate seating and shelter with clear signage to refreshment and toilet facilities.

Another member asked what disabled facilities would be included. James Dymond explained that access for all was encouraged wherever possible on new green spaces, while also maintaining the often rural feel of these.

Bearing in mind recent legal problems with the use of non porous materials – i.e. tarmac in domestic settings, one member of the forum asked whether the council was using any alternative materials were being used for resurfacing. James Dymond explained that outside urban areas the council tried to use more natural, porous material like hoggin. In transitional sites where urban landscape bordered on green space, the council attempted to use other surface materials – like resin covered gravel for example, which is less porous than hoggin but involves a slower run off of water.

On a separate issue Richard explained that existing green space areas were being assessed against the Green Flag Award standards – the highest profile award for green spaces in the country. In fact, three of the four Green Flag sites in Berkshire are located in the borough of Bracknell.  To put this in context, this meant that the quality of these sites was on a par with that found in the Royal Parks. Bracknell Forest Borough Council was seeking to bring more sites up to this standard, and Lily Hill Park had been entered for the award this year, with plans to enter South HillPark at some time in the future.

However, there were some views that the Green Flag system tended to celebrate good sites at the expense of underachieving sites. To combat this, a new standard called the Plus One Principle was coming into force. This would involve setting up a baseline standard to which currently underperforming green spaces could be brought.