Note of Meeting 23 July 2025
Several members of the Friends’ committee attended with Council officers, a local Police officer and a local business representative.
The purpose of the meeting was to explore further the proposed protection measures for the Park put forward at the residents’ meeting on 5 July. Particular focus was placed on the preferred proposal for boulders combined with wooden planters.
The discussion identified the following:
- No planning permission is required for the placement of boulders
- FoVP has several pledges of financial contributions to the cost of protection measures
- Wooden planters would need maintenance and could be set alight. They were discounted on these grounds
- Boulders would need to be ‘installed’ rather than simply placed. This would involve digging
hollows in which they would be placed on a bed of cement/concrete. - Any measures, and their installation would need to be compliant with regulations pertaining to green spaces and play areas
- Subject to ‘5’ above we, FoVP could go ahead if we were able to meet the full cost of materials and installation
- As an add on to boulders the Council offered tree whips to provide hedging and wildlife habitat in the longer term
- As a temporary measure we could make use of some more of the ‘portable’ concrete blocks to make some vulnerable areas more secure
Actions agreed
- Committee to conduct a survey to identify how many boulders would be necessary. The survey to draw upon and build upon some preliminary work undertaken by a local surveyor
- Council to provide specification of boulders to meet compliance
- Committee to calculate cost of boulders based on results of survey and specifications
- Committee to advise Council of number of boulders required in order that Council can calculate and provide a quote for cost of installation
- In addition to ‘3’ above and to take account of the possibility of the work being fully funded by FoVP and residents, Committee to cost out a package of supply and installation by the quarry
- Council to investigate and advise on the provision of additional temporary concrete blocks
All agreed to stay in contact to be able to clarify issues as they arise.