Agenda item

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

To consider the above petition bearing 208 signatures which was submitted by Councillor P Male, a Woodlands Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Service which responded to a petition submitted by Councillor P Male, a Woodlands Ward Councillor. The petition bearing 324 signatures requested the Council to allocate sufficient funding to provide a tarmac path around the outside edge of the Ponderosa in Tile Hill.

The petition related to an area of land known locally as The Ponderosa or more formally as Jardine Crescent Sports Ground, which lies off Jardine Crescent in Tile Hill.

It was recognised that the Jardine Crescent Sports Ground is an important area of open space and very much valued and well used by the local community.

The creation of a peripheral footpath has been considered. Creating a self-bound gravel footpath (with timber edging boards) would cost approximately £77,760 - £97,200. A tarmac path, as petitioned for, would be significantly more expensive at approximately £130,000 to complete. The Parks Service does not have the existing resources to undertake this proposal.

The Council’s Park Service recognises the importance of installing good footpath networks in its green spaces, particularly peripheral footpaths which do much to encourage greater access and use of open spaces as has been recognised.

The report concluded that the creation of a new footpath in the park would continue to be considered, if and when funds were made available. The service would continue to explore and exploit all funding opportunity both external and internal to provide footpaths.

Councillor Male attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the petition and the rationale behind it. He enquired which avenues had been explored to secure funding and requested that officers explore every option to secure funding to enable the footpath to be built. Councillor Male further enquired whether officers had or could pursue the following options to secure contributions; local businesses in the area, HS2 developers, S106 contributions from the Sustainable Urban Extensions (SUEs) approved for Eastern Green and also the Active Travel Fund. To conclude, Councillor Male explained that even a path on the one side of the park would go a long way to promoting active, healthy living and would open up access to the park for a lot of users, including disabled people.

Councillor J Lepoidevin, Shadow Cabinet Member suggested that officers should explore securing funding from the National Lottery and other established businesses in the area.

The Cabinet Member, having considered the report and the representations made at the meeting, stated that officers would continue to seek out funding opportunities and that he would keep a watching brief over this and requested an update in 6 months time. 

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:

1.  Considered the content of the petition and notes the concerns of the petitioners.

2.  Notes that there is insufficient funding for a new tarmac footpath to be provided from the existing Park Service budgets.

3.  Agrees that when opportunity and resources allow, the installation of a footpath at the Ponderosa would be considered to improve access and use of the open space by the local community.