Please be aware that the "Special" Open Spacess Committee meeting is not an Open Forum for public discussion as originally stated.  The OS Committee together with the Play Area Advisory Committee will discuss the Report presented at their last meeting.

The Parish Council Offices have limited space and therefore if too many members of the public turn up they may have to ask for one representative of each group to attend or postpone the meeting altogether.  Members of the public will only be able to observe this meeting, there will be no opportunity to speak.

If you have a strong viewpoint on the contents of the Report please write to the Clerk of the Parish Council to have your views recorded.

 

The Parish Council received the finalised report from the Play Area Advisory Group at the Open Spaces meeting on Tuesday night (17th Jan) together with a 26 page briefing document.  The Councillors thanked the Group for their detailed and fair report and called for an EGM to be held at the Parish Council Offices on Tuesday 21st February 2012 at 8.00pm to discuss the report in greater detail and allow questions from all interested parties. 

Three Rivers District Council are also meeting that night to approve the £95k budget for a play area in Chorleywood, so it is unlikely any District Councillors will be able to attend the meeting.  Anyone interested in this topic are urged to attend.

The report and briefing document are attached.

The Advisory Group has met several times since July and carried out an extensive investigation of potential locations for a formal and/or informal play area in Chorleywood as identified by Three Rivers District Council.  At their meeting on 20th December the report was formulated and will be finalised at a further meeting on Tuesday 3rd Janary 2012.  The report and supporting briefing document will outline how the advisory group came to it's conclusions on possible locations.

The Parish Council Open Spaces Committee meeting is a public meeting and residents who have a view on this subject are encouraged to attend at 8.00pm.

In the meantime you can write to the Clerk of the Parish where your letter will be kept on record and reviewed with the report.  A copy of the report and briefing document will be made available prior to the meeting.

The timetable of events means that The Open Spaces Committee will discuss and review the report, this may require an Extraordinary Meeting of the OS Committee to be able to discuss in full the findings of the report and taking into consideration all viewpoints.  Their findings will then go to Full Parish Council meeting on 7th February 2012 (again you are urged attend) prior to any discussions with Three Rivers DC who will have their £95K budget approved on 22nd February 2012 for the play area. 

TRDC have said they will commence their formal Consultation with community groups, schools, youth clubs and all residents of Chorleywood between May and November 2012.  However it is still a matter for the Parish Council to agree on where it should be located within Chorleywood. 

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In July 2011 it was decided that an Advisory Group to the Parish Council should be set up to include;

·         Two Parish Councillors - Steve Watkins (Chair), Alison Preedy

·         Senior Parish Ranger - Peter Monaghan

·         Two Friends of Chorleywood Common nominees - Greg Hill and Marilyn Hampton

·         Two Community Representatives - Chorleywood Residents Association, Maria Larkin & Chorleywoodmums.com - Simone Tyson

This group has been set up to investigate possible sites in Chorleywood for both formal and informal play equipment.  The Advisory group will provide their proposals to the Open Spaces Sub-committee of Chorleywood Parish Council in early 2012 in advance of the TRDC Consultation.

At the Chorleywood Forum on 10^th October 2011 TRDC Officers talked about the lack of existing play facilities in Chorleywood and their normal process for setting up, locating and designing new play areas.

In early 2012 the TRDC consultation process will begin and take into account the views of the whole community (schools, toddler and youth groups, parish council, residents associations etc) in terms of style, type of equipment and location of a play area.  It would be Jan / Feb 2013 before a play area would be installed.

Interestingly fencing isn't a 100% necessity depending on location (e.g. Forestry Commission Wendover Woods) meaning Common Land could be considered if the Parish council offered this as an option.

We are keen to better understand the views of our members therefore if you have any ideas or suggestions you would like to be taken on board please do contact Maria Larkin at maria@chorleywoodresidents.co.uk

Simon Tyson of Chorleywoodmums.com made a very good presentation to the Parish Council which was greeted with the expected response, some smiles and positivity, some negative head shaking and some calm neutrality.  The outcome of this 3 minute speech and pack of research papers given to the Parish Council was that the Open Spaces sub-committee will discuss how they wish to take this proposal forward at their next meeting 24^th May 2011, 8pm at Parish Council Offices (Public Meeting at which we encourage any interested local families to attend). 

The Survey Results and research that has been presented are online for people to read if they are interested.  Simon would like to thank all those who completed the survery for their support Nearly 200 local families completed it!

In the meantime Simon urges you to please talk to your parish councillors about your views and engage them in a discussion on the topic – they are our elected representatives and would no doubt be interested in hearing your views!

Remember to check out her Blog if you would like to read more on this topic What do we as want from the £95k funding for Chorleywood Play Facilities?