FRIENDS OF POOLE PARK
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 5 JUNE 2006
The meeting commenced at 7.05pm and concluded at 9.10pm
Present:
D Chick
M Heckford
B Lister
E Marsh
R Mountford
D Gully
J Marter
R Nicholson
M Raudsepp
L Strothard
H Alexander
I Andrews
J Austin-Williams
K Bearcroft
D Broadhurst
C Chauncy
J Dibley
J Eales
D Eldrett
N Ellis
E Gault
P Giles
J Gillingham
J Jones
E Lawford
C Middleton
M Muir
T Muir
M Munroe
J Norman
G Plant
B Potter
JR St John
T St John
P Steer
AE Vincent
C Watkins
-
Chairman
Friends of Poole Park - Treasurer
Friends of Poole Park - Publicity Officer
Friends of Poole Park – Committee Member
Friends of Poole Park – Honorary Auditor
Borough of Poole – Assistant Ranger
Borough of Poole – Poole Park Ranger
Borough of Poole – Leisure Services
Borough of Poole – Open Spaces Manager
Clerk to the Friends of Poole Park
Open Spaces Society
Society of Poole Men
Orchard Area residents’ Association
Parkstone Bay Association
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Poole Radio Yacht Club (PRYC)
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Poole Radio Yacht Club (PRYC)
Parkstone Bay Association
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Friends of Poole Park
Parkstone Bay Association
Poole Park Bowling Club
Orchard Area Residents Association
Members of the public in attendance:
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1.
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed one new Member to the Friends of Poole Park and
introduced Members of the Committee, the Clerk and Local Authority Leisure
Services Officers to the Meeting.
2.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs E Allen, Cllr Burden,
Mr P Butler, Cllr Gillard, Dr M Grundy, Mr R Jones, Mr T Smith (Friends of
Poole Park Events Coordinator) and Mr D Woodgate.
3.
MINUTES
AGREED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 March 2006 be
confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the
following amendment:
(i)
4.
Pg. 6, Para 4 – ‘Bird-scaring loud-hailer’ – 2nd sentence - delete ‘and’
and insert full stop between ‘Rooks and ‘Members’.
MATTERS ARISING
(a)
Children’s Play Area : Security
Poole Park’s Ranger reported a reduction in the number of youths
loitering in the new Children’s Play Area.
(b)
RSPB Identification Boards
The Local Authority’s Open Spaces Manager informed members that
the cost of purchasing and installing stone cairns had proved
prohibitive. As a result, Leisure Services proposed to mount the
Identification Board on a metal frame, similar to those which had been
installed at Branksome Dean Chine. The Board would be installed in
Poole Park by September.
(c)
Wooden Picnic Table
The Picnic Table had been installed outside the new Children’s Play
Area.
(d)
Additional Play Equipment for Children’s Play Areas
A ‘Talking Tube’ had been installed at the Kingland Road Play Area.
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(e)
Lake Dredging
The Lake Dredging Project had received final approval from the
Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment. Contracts for the
tendering process were now being drawn up and it was anticipated that
dredging would commence over Christmas 2006.
The Open Spaces Manager confirmed that (i) artificial islands created
from the dredged material would be inaccessible to the public; (ii)
Project costs would be met out of Planning Obligation Funding; and (iii)
consideration of outline proposals for a fountain in Poole Park Lake
would be deferred until dredging had been completed.
Leisure Services was currently considering planting schemes for the
artificial islands, however landscaping would need to be undertaken to
create low-level, flat islands out of the dredged silt before any planting
could commence.
(f)
Rose Garden
A fencing contractor had visited the site to scope the Project.
Installation of the trellis was likely to go ahead once full costings had
been received. The Friends of Poole Park had agreed to fund the
Project.
5.
POOLE PARK UPDATE
Poole Park’s Ranger gave an update report on works completed since March
2006 as follows:

The driveway to Reynards Yard had been resurfaced with limestone
gravel;

The perimeter fence at the Mini Golf enclosure had been renovated;

The cost of installing unobtrusive granite setts to slow traffic flow was
being investigated;

It was anticipated that the Park’s Maintenance Contractors would complete
Summer planting by the week ending 17 June;
Poole Park’s Ranger reported a sharp increase in vandalism over the half
term period (29 May to 2 June), including waste bins / Park benches thrown
into the Lakes and excessive littering. Bedding plants at the War Memorial
had been torn out within 12 hours of being planted and the Park’s
Maintenance Contractors had spent the following day replanting the beds as a
result. The incident had been reported to Dorset Police who had agreed to
step up patrols in the Park, particularly in the evenings.
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In addition, the Open Spaces Manager reported that the Operator of Poole
Park’s Miniature Railway had given a statement to Police following a theft
from the Railway Shed, an incident which had coincided with vandalism of the
War Memorial. Police had reviewed CCTV footage and were actively
pursuing the culprit(s).
Poole Park’s Ranger was thanked for his Report.
6.
TREE PLANTING AND POLICY
Members received an update report on the Local Authority’s Tree Planting
and Policy from Richard Nicholson (Technical Development Team Leader,
Leisure Services).
Andy Osborne (Local Authority Arboricultural Officer) had compiled a
comprehensive map-based tree survey of Poole Park giving detailed
information on the Park tree population (including species, location, age, trunk
diameter and date of planting).
The results of the Survey had identified the need for extensive pruning
(predominantly of split tree limbs) with costs anticipated to be in the region of
£3,000. However no pruning could be undertaken without securing explicit
approval from the Local Authority’s Planning Design and Control Services as
the Park was a designated conservation area.
Members noted the main findings of the Tree Survey as follows:

Poole Park had a total population of 1032 trees, including 76 species of
broad-leaved tree and 17 species of conifer;

the survey recorded 193 trees as being under 10 years old. All were
reported to be healthy;

there were no significant dead trees in the Park;

9 trees had been planted in the current year, including 3 Hawthorns, 1
Magnolia, 1 Birch, 1 Sweet Chestnut, 1 Monkey Puzzle and 1 Acer.
Informed by the results of the Tree Survey, Leisure Services had begun to
prepare a Draft Management Plan for the planting, care and maintenance of
Park trees. Once formally approved, the Plan would be published on the
Borough of Poole website (www.boroughofpoole.com).
Members noted the Local Authority’s general policy for the care and
management of trees as follows:
(i)
there was a presumption that the Local Authority would NOT fell trees
wherever possible. Leisure Services had a duty to observe any Tree
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Preservation Orders in force and any applications for tree felling were
submitted to the Local Authority’s Planning Design and Control
Services for consideration;
(ii)
tree works were prioritised according to the need to manage trees (and
any hazards presented by them) in areas of high public use; work to
repair trees posing a risk to public safety was paramount;
(iii)
wherever possible Leisure Services encouraged tree species to
achieve their natural form and size;
(iv)
where appropriate the Local Authority ensured that dead trees were left
standing and / or fallen wood was retained on site in order to
encourage wildlife;
Once the Management Plan had been formally approved it was proposed that
Andy Osborne would attend Area Committees, as well as a future meeting of
the Friends of Poole Park, in order to give a presentation to Members.
A Question and Answer forum followed (summarised below):
(i)
Horse Chestnut Avenue
In response to a question from Chris Watkins, Leisure Services
confirmed that a final strategy for the replacement of trees on the
Horse Chestnut Avenue had yet to be agreed. It was noted that the
Local Authority’s 1996 Policy for the Management of Trees made no
provision to replace the Horse Chestnut trees as and when they died
as there was a long-term intention to maintain an even-aged feature.
Currently approximately 50% of the Avenue’s trees had died and it was
anticipated that all surviving trees would need to be felled and replaced
within the next 5 / 10 years. Leisure Services noted a request from
Chris Watkins that in the event of all the trees being felled as proposed,
the Avenue should be replanted with semi-mature trees in order to
protect against vandalism.
Ken Bearcroft queried whether intermediate trees could be planted in
between the current trees. Leisure Services Officers again stressed
the need to maintain an even-aged feature but agreed to consider
options to plant a ‘parallel avenue’ of trees (space-permitting) or
options to plant replacement trees on the opposite side of the Park
road. All options would need to be authorised by English Heritage.
John Austin-Williams stated his disappointment that, should a decision
be made to fell all trees on the Avenue, some healthy specimens would
be felled before living out their natural lifespan. He asked Leisure
Services Officers to consider replacing the Horse Chestnut Trees as
and when they died, noting that a similar policy had been employed in
Berlin where Arboriculturalists had replaced dead trees with semi-
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mature specimens. Mr Austin-Williams stressed that although the
resulting feature was ‘irregular’, it was nonetheless successful and
attractive.
The Local Authority’s Open Spaces Manager agreed that there were a
number of issues to take into account regarding the long-term
management of the Horse Chestnut Avenue and underlined that the
need to preserve the Borough’s only existing even-aged Tree Avenue
would need to be balanced against the differing views of the public.
The Management Plan would take account of public opinion.
(ii)
Oak Trees
Ronnie Mountford expressed concern that some Great Oaks in the
Park had a propensity for suddenly shedding large branches and
appealed to Leisure Services for their attention to this matter. Richard
Nicholson confirmed that the Park Oaks were inspected regularly by an
experienced Arboriculturalist and any tree identified as a danger to the
public would be felled.
In response to a query from Harry Alexander, Richard Nicholson
confirmed that there were plans to increase planting of Oaks as a
number were coming to the end of their natural lifespan. Continuity of
cover would be maintained by ensuring that a copse of smaller oaks
would be replanted at sites where any large oak had been felled. Both
Traditional and other varieties of Oak would be considered for
replanting.
(iii)
Tree Plaques
Mike Heckford asked Leisure Services Officers to consider introducing
tree plaques showing the species and age of individual trees. Bob
Lister noted that Andy Osborne had offered to produce a
comprehensive ‘tree map’ of the Park and there were plans to
encourage schools into the Park for educational visits.
Memorial Planting was not supported by Leisure Services, however
options for ‘Tree Adoption’ could be considered in the future.
(iv)
Dead Trees
Leisure Services Officers agreed to replace dead trees at the site of the
old boatyard.
The Chairman noted his disappointment that only 9 new trees had been
planted in the course of the year, including one planted by the Friends of
Poole Park in the new children’s play area. It was hoped that the new
Management Plan would include plans to increase planting in future years.
Leisure Services Officers were thanked for their report.
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7.
TRAFFIC ISSUES
The Chairman read from a letter by Cllr David Gillard informing members that
the Open Spaces Manager, together with the Local Authority’s Principal
Engineer (Traffic and Parking), was investigating a number of options for
traffic calming in Poole Park. Cllr Gillard did not support the installation of
additional signage in the Park.
Dorset Police had informed Cllr Gillard that additional Police Community
Support Officers (PCSOs) were being recruited and would be deployed in the
Park. In addition, Sgt Mike Kynaston would contact the Chairman to discuss
policing of the area.
The Open Spaces Manager informed members that a number of traffic
calming measures were currently under consideration, including the
installation of granite setts. Full options, including costings, would be brought
to the September Meeting for consideration. The Open Spaces Manager
agreed to investigate options for installing short rubber speed humps with
Transportation Services and a request was made that consideration be given
to installing a speed hump at Whitecliff Bridge in order to deter ‘joyriders’. A
discussion on off-road cycle-tracks would be deferred until the September
meeting.
In response to a suggestion from Ken Bearcroft that Dorset Police be
requested to provide an evening presence in the Park, the Publicity Officer
reported that he attended 3-monthly Meetings of the Poole Town Safety
Community Group and had raised such concerns with Dorset Police at these
Meetings.
There was a perception that coach and lorry traffic through the Park had
increased. Ian Andrews emphasised that taxis, commercial vehicles, buses
and coaches were expressly prohibited from Poole Park under present
regulations and suggested there was a need for these restrictions to be
enforced. With regard to the problem of speeding in the Park, Ian Andrews
suggested that members may like to consider lobbying the Local Authority to
reduce the speed limit to 15MPH, a measure which would not require
revocation of the Traffic Regulation Order already in place.
Peter Steer suggested that the Park road could be reclassified as a ‘Play
Street’ with a 15MPH limit. The Open Spaces Manager agreed to raise the
issue with Cllr. Gillard. In addition, members requested that Leisure Services
consider options for the selective closure of the Park at peak travel times.
AGREED
(i)
that Leisure Services investigate options to reclassify Poole Park
as a ‘Play Street’. The Open Spaces Manager would discuss this
option with Cllr Gillard; and
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(ii)
8.
that the Friends of Poole Park request the Local Authority to
investigate all options for reducing the speed of traffic through
Poole Park, including the selective closure of Poole Park at peak
travel times and the possible installation of short rubber speed
humps in the Park. Full options, including costings to be brought
to the September Meeting for consideration.
PLANNING OBLIGATION FUNDING
Members received a brief update report on Planning Obligation Funding from
the Open Spaces Manager.
Total income received had now reached £508,000. Of this, £13,000 had
been spent on the new children’s play area and a further £322,000 had been
allocated to other commitments including £200,000 to fund lake dredging.
Approximately £164,000 was available to fund new projects including
installation of a fountain, renovation of the old play area and upgrading toilet
facilities (subject to approval).
In response to a query from Bob Lister regarding whether there were sufficient
monies within the £200,000 allocation to cover the cost of dredging the model
yacht enclosure, the Open Spaces Manager stressed that the funds were
granted primarily to facilitate the return of sailing to the lake. Although no firm
commitment could be given, consideration would be given to dredging the
model yacht enclosure should this prove feasible within the overall budget.
Harry Alexander sought reassurance that eels indigenous to the Lake would
be protected throughout the dredging project. In response, the Open Spaces
Manager confirmed that full consideration would be given to the protection of
fauna and that terms and conditions to safeguard wildlife would be considered
as part of the successful Contractor’s overall method statement.
Following a brief debate, a proposal to support the allocation of Planning
Obligation Funding to cover the cost of refurbishing the Park toilets was
passed by majority vote.
AGREED that the Friends of Poole Park would support the allocation of
Planning Obligation Funding to cover the cost of refurbishing the Park
toilets.
9.
TREASURER’S / MEMBERSHIP REPORT
The Treasurer presented the latest financial statement.
The balance on the Friends of Poole Park account stood at £23,936.47 as of
28 May 2006. Recent expenditure included £3,151.69 to pay for new
equipment in the Park (litterbin, picnic bench, talking tube, installation of the
Mosquito system etc). Total receipts from Fest ’06 totalled £4,597.50 so far.
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Membership
Membership renewals was an area of concern to the Committee. Only 1 Life
Member and 1 Annual Member had joined the Friends of Poole Park since the
March Meeting, amounting to a total of 87 members (9 Life members and 78
Annual Members). This represented 63 fewer Members than at the same
period last year. A substantial number of members had failed to renew their
membership in 2006.
10.
PUBLICITY REPORT / EVENTS REPORT
Members noted the following key points:
11.

the Publicity Officer had appeared on TV’s ‘South Today’ in order to
publicise the Goosebuster bird-scaring Loudhailer;

the Committee had welcomed the introduction of a ‘Buggyfit’ exercise
class in the Park for Mothers;

a ‘Green Gym’ workout was taking place in the Park on a twice weekly
basis. Full details of the exercise classes were displayed on the Park’s
noticeboards;

Members of the Public were warned that they would attract a fixed penalty
for dropping litter in the Park. Information was displayed on the Park’s
noticeboards;

The Publicity Officer appealed to members to act as Volunteers for the
forthcoming Fest ’06. Members interested in helping out on the day before
the event and / or during Fest ’06 itself were invited to a Volunteers
Meeting on Tuesday 25 July at the Cygnet Café;

Members were reminded of the forthcoming ‘Chairman’s Challenge Quiz
Night’ on 19 July 2006, tickets for which were available from the Chairman
at the close of the Meeting;

Leisure Services Staff were conducting Guided Walks of Poole Park on
the 1st and 5th Saturday in each month.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(i)
Update on new restaurant
It was anticipated that building work on the new restaurant would
commence in September.
Discussions were currently being
undertaken in order to agree access to the site for contractors.
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(ii)
Bird Life
Members discussed methods by which more small birds and bats could
be encouraged into the Park. The RSPB could provide funding to buy
bird nesting boxes, however volunteers from the Friends of Poole Park
were required to ensure these were regularly replenished with food.
(iii)
Shrubbery
John Austin-Williams asked Leisure Services to give
consideration to the species of shrubbery chosen for planting.
(iv)
careful
Littering : Fixed Penalty Notices
Park Rangers and other Local Authority staff were now able to control
littering in the Park by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices. A range of
enviro-crimes, including dog fouling, littering, graffiti, fly-posting or the
irresponsible handing out of advertising flyers, was now punishable
with a £75.00 fine. Approximately 20 / 30 notices had been issued
Borough-wide so far.
Members agreed that Officers from Environmental and Consumer
Protection Services be invited to provide a report and policy statement
on the enforcement of fixed penalties at the September meeting of the
Friends of Poole Park.
In addition, Bob Lister agreed to procure a quantity of cigarette butt
holders and chewing gum pouches for distribution to Bournemouth and
Poole College students. A leaflet would also be distributed reminding
students that a fine would be imposed for littering the Park.
AGREED that Officers from Environmental and Consumer
Protection Services be invited to provide a report and policy
statement on the enforcement of fixed penalties at the September
meeting of the Friends of Poole Park.
12.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
AGREED that the next Meeting of The Friends of Poole Park would take
place on Monday 11 September 2006 at 7.00pm in the Committee Suite,
Civic Centre.
CHAIRMAN
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