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The Community Park Project from Shirehampton Community Action Forum and Shirehampton Greens to improve the Daisy Field along the Portway has been making good progress. A comprehensive community consultation has taken place, though this will always be an ongoing process, and discussions with the Council have also taken place on how to take forward the aspirations of the community for the site.
The consultation has revealed that local people feel the site should maintain a natural feel and that any improvements should concentrate on safety, community art, making access to the site and on the site easier and projects to benefit wildlife in the area. An energetic and positive prioritisation meeting with local people and the City Council to consider the results of the wider consultation provided the following results:
Priority 1: A dog-free area, a picnic area with rustic tables and benches, footpaths (hard surface and mown), little bins, dog bins, new fencing along the road and railway, wildflowers and native trees, notices re: dog mess.
Priority 2: Robust, vandal-proof seating around the site, litter-picking events.
Priority 3: A maze with mosaics/sundial etc, natural carved sculptures, nature trail, information about the site and the wildlife there, improved crossing across the Portway, leaflets on the site available to the community, regular community events and activities.
A decision has been made that the Daisy Field is not an appropriate site in the short and medium term to provide facilities that will attract children and young people. A City Council play officer highlighted that the Daisy Field is an ideal open space for adventurous informal play but that providing formal play equipment wouldn't be the right way forward. This is mainly due to the close proximity of the Portway Road and the railway line. However, a play area was the most popular idea put forward by the Shirehampton Community and so Shirehampton Community Action Forum feels that this is an issue that should be taken forward for another site.
The next stage for the Daisy Field project is to work with the Council to involve the community in helping design the improvements that can go forward and then try and raise money from grants for the work. A number of local people and members of Shirehampton Greens have been very active in helping the Daisy Field project move forward. If you would like to get involved in this process please give me a call at the Public Hall on 982 9963. Only with community input can this project meet the aspirations raised by the consultation and be a success.
Richard Fletcher
Community Park Project Development Worker,
Shirehampton Community Action Forum. Tel. 0117 982 9963