Notes of the Open Spaces Committee Walk Round

Haylings Pond, Victory Road Recreation Ground, King Georges Avenue Recreation Ground and Community Orchard

21 September 2021 – 5pm

Those present: Cllr Levermore

Cllr Bing Boast

Cllr Lesley Hill

Cllr Mary Anne Woolf

Mrs Hannah Everett-Spearing – Assets Co-ordinator

Mrs Bev Kemp – Admin Assistant

Apologies: Cllr Last, Cllr Corbett

Haylings Pond

Mrs Everett-Spearing confirmed that the carpark does belong to Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council. She informed Councillors that we are unable to change the position of the parking bays due to the available space. NJB will need to sweep the area at a cost of £440 before they can quote on resurfacing and we are still awaiting further quotes. Action: Mrs Everett-Spearing/Mrs Kemp

Mrs Everett-Spearing informed Councillors that Leiston Youth Community Angling Society where unsuccessful in their grant bid with Suffolk Community Foundation to install a disabled pathway and storage unit. All Councillors present agreed to take forward to Full Council a recommendation that we provide funding for this project to a maximum of £5000. Action: Full Council for approval

Cllr Levermore commented on the warping of the picnic bench. Councillors agreed to replace this with a new wooden picnic bench seated on a concrete pad. Action Mrs Everett-Spearing

Mrs Everett-Spearing informed Councillors that she had received a quote from Gary Whiting for the grass cutting and hedge/shrub maintenance of £65 per cut. Councillors agreed this seemed reasonable and asked Mrs Everett-Spearing to put together a full costings comparison report to take to Full Council for consideration. Action: Full Council for approval

Mrs Everett-Spearing informed Councillors that Creative Leiston have approached the Council to ask for permission to use part of Haylings Pond to create an enchanted fairy garden. Mrs Everett-Spearing will clarify the size of the area. It was agreed to recommend to full council for approval. Action: Full Council for approval

All Councillors agreed that Hayling’s Pond was looking very good.

Victory Road Recreation Ground

Councillors were pleased to see the park had been mowed and looking in a good state. After a walk around it was noted that there were some bare patches among the borders, where plants have died and not been replaced and also lots of weeds this includes the round sections near the outside gym equipment. Cllr Levermore suggested employing a part-time gardener. Action: Mrs Everett-Spearing to contact Norse

Councillors noticed that one of the benches within the park needs replacing and one corner of the Boules Piste needs to be mended. Action: Mrs Everett-Spearing

Councillors where pleased to see the skatepark being well used and noted that one lighting column was damaged. Action: Mrs Kemp

Councillors noted the larger toddler climbing frame still needs to be repainted, Mrs Everett-Spearing informed councillors this is in hand. Action: Mrs Everett-Spearing

Due to the time already taken on the walk round Councillors decided not to visit King Georges Avenue Recreation Ground and the Community Orchard. A further meeting to be arranged. At the next full walk round the visit to King Georges Avenue to be first.