Agenda item

To receive a detailed update on the Towns Fund and Accelerated Funding Projects, including a presentation around the Mill Street Corridor Project, the Valley Brook Green Project and Pocket Parks.

Three presentations were made in respect of Crewe Pocket Parks, Mill Street Corridor and Valley Brook.

Edward Yoxall, the Parks Technical Officer from ANSA attended the meeting and gave a presentation on Crewe Pocket Parks.  Covered within the presentation was information on the following:-

·         Background to ANSA and Wishing Well;

·         Funding for the 9 Pocket Parks;

·         Direct output-Improvement of 9 parks;

·         Specific examples of improvements to parks in Macclesfield and Alsager to showcase what would be achievable;

·         Proposed Delivery Plan;

·         Summary of proposals for each of the 9 pocket parks including budget costs

Questions/comments were made in respect of the following:-

·         Scheduling of improvements to the parks and why two of the most deprived parks in Crewe would be improved last;

Possibility of the provision of CCTV;

·         Provision of equipment for teenagers including a ‘zip wire’ feature and appropriate seating areas;

·         Opportunities to engage with the different communities living in and around the 9 pocket parks in relation to tree planting;

·         Involvement of primary/secondary schools tree planting;

·         If community took ownership of the parks then CCTV and so forth was unnecessary;

·         Design of park would be key in attracting people to use it;

·         Officer support essential in order to support the larger programme

The chair thanked the officer for his presentation.

Dr Charles Jarvis, Head of Economic Development attended the meeting and gave a presentation on Mill Street Corridor.  Covered within the presentation was information on the following:-

·         Project Summary including financial and output information;

·         Mill Street Study-Context;

·         Photographic evidence of the current look of the corridor;

·         Considered options for the corridor;

·         Preferred route and concept design

The Board asked questions in respect of the opening up of the archways in Mill Street and whether this would be part of the proposals and the impact of the recent Network Rail purchase and what impact this might have on Pedley Street.

Chris Allman, Head of Neighbourhood Services attended the meeting and gave a presentation on Valley Brook.  Covered within the presentation was information on the following:-

·         Key issues including flooding, access, safety, lack of desirability;

·         Initial scope of the project;

·         Financial information;

·         Elements of the route;

·         River issues and improvements;

·         Considered options for the routes;

·         The preferred option was highlighted;

·         Timelines

Questions/comments were made in respect of the following:-

·         Assumed that there would be a continuous green corridor from the bottom of Mill Street to Queens Park;

·         Could there be potential in the future to secure funding in order to tackle the elements where there were breaks in the corridor;

·         Potential to make longer term improvements if funding was secured later on in the programme

A verbal update was also provided on the tranches each project had been allocated to, alongside a brief outline of the current position of a number of the projects.  It was noted that a presentation on the Inner Crewe Warm and Healthy Projects would be made at the next meeting.

The chair requested a programme of events so it was clear to the public as to what was happening and therefore able to see any progress made.

RESOLVED

That the presentations and update be noted.