There are 5 design proposals for the new play area.
Following this consultation, BCC will commission 1 of them to be built....
How to feed in your views:
1. Friends of Horfield Common will be hosting a meeting at the Ardagh on Monday 7th October 2013 from 18.00 - 19.00 when we invite you to come along and discuss your preferred designs with us, so that we can ensure that our response to the consultation reflects local views as accurately as possible.
2. BCC will be hosting a drop-in afternoon/evening at the Ardagh on Thursday 24th October from 4.30 - 7.00pm to offer users of the play area, local residents, families and young people an opportunity to discuss the plans for the play area with our local Area Engagement Officer in person. BCC will also be carrying out visits to local schools and other groups to discuss the proposals during the consultation period.
3. Please send any comments direct to Mark Owen, our Area Environment Officer whose details are below:
Mark Owen, Environment & Leisure, Neighbourhoods, 4th Floor Clifton Wing, Brunel House, St George's Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY, e-mail: mark.owen@bristol.gov.uk or telephone: Mark Owen on 0117 9325801
1. Friends of Horfield Common will be hosting a meeting at the Ardagh on Monday 7th October 2013 from 18.00 - 19.00 when we invite you to come along and discuss your preferred designs with us, so that we can ensure that our response to the consultation reflects local views as accurately as possible.
2. BCC will be hosting a drop-in afternoon/evening at the Ardagh on Thursday 24th October from 4.30 - 7.00pm to offer users of the play area, local residents, families and young people an opportunity to discuss the plans for the play area with our local Area Engagement Officer in person. BCC will also be carrying out visits to local schools and other groups to discuss the proposals during the consultation period.
3. Please send any comments direct to Mark Owen, our Area Environment Officer whose details are below:
Mark Owen, Environment & Leisure, Neighbourhoods, 4th Floor Clifton Wing, Brunel House, St George's Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY, e-mail: mark.owen@bristol.gov.uk or telephone: Mark Owen on 0117 9325801
Please find below (in alphabetical order of the company's name) the 5 design proposals that have been put forward for final consultation for the new play area. Each design includes a proposal for the layout of the new play provision and a proposal for the equipment to be included.
The aim of the consultation is to get your feedback on:
1. which of the proposals you prefer &
2. whether there are any aspects of other designs that you would like to see included in this final design.
The deadline for comments is Friday 25th October. Please see bottom of the page for how to feed in your comments.
The aim of the consultation is to get your feedback on:
1. which of the proposals you prefer &
2. whether there are any aspects of other designs that you would like to see included in this final design.
The deadline for comments is Friday 25th October. Please see bottom of the page for how to feed in your comments.
Click on each of the images below to open a larger version (pdf. files)
Proposal 1 - HAGS, SMP
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Proposal 2 - Playdale
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Proposal 3 - Proludic
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Proposal 4 - Sutcliffe Play
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Proposal 5 - Wickstead
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Horfield Common Children's Play Area Refurbishment :: The final design is here! - 10 March 2014
This is the final design plan for the new children's play area on Horfield Common.
The project manager has provided a commentary on the revised design. For more details, see here
Construction of the new play area began on April 9th & should take 6 weeks to complete (weather permitting). We can't wait to see this long-awaited facility open for 'play business' asap!
The project manager has provided a commentary on the revised design. For more details, see here
Construction of the new play area began on April 9th & should take 6 weeks to complete (weather permitting). We can't wait to see this long-awaited facility open for 'play business' asap!
New Children's Play Provision for Horfield Common - the Proposals are in!
This is brilliant news for Horfield Common and follows years of campaigning by local people for improvements to the play provision on this site. The funding currently allocated for the play area needs to be spent by early 2014 and this is the final consultation stage before it is built. Thanks to all who have taken part in consultations/meetings/campaigns to date to achieve improvement to the play area on the common - please get involved in this final one - we are nearly there!
Click here to see FOHC's commentary on the play area proposals to date... |
Click here to download a copy of the formal consultation notice from Bristol City Council. |
The consultation begins Monday 30th Sept and closes Friday 25th Oct - see below for full information and how to feed in your views.
The Votes are in! And this is the play area most FOHC-ers want to see on the common**
Following an open meeting at the Ardagh on Monday 7th October to discuss the proposals, plus opinions from the e-mails that we have received to date - we have a decision on which of the play areas FOHC members want to see built - and this is it!
**However - there are a few requested amendments/additions to make this work for everyone. These are:
**However - there are a few requested amendments/additions to make this work for everyone. These are:
A quick additional note 21/10/2013 - from FOHC's Facebook Page:
The question of a sandpit has come up repeatedly & the reason that it hasn't been included is because we don't have a park-keeper who can ensure everyday that it is clean (doesn't have any glass etc in it). In other parks - e.g. St. Andrews & Canford - they have park-keepers who can do this but where sandpits have been put in across the city & there isn't supervision of them, used needles & other undesirable items have been found buried in them etc. In the long term - we are campaigning for a park-keeper to be brought back to Horfield Common, but until we get this - we didn't put a sandpit into our comments for that reason. Sam
The question of a sandpit has come up repeatedly & the reason that it hasn't been included is because we don't have a park-keeper who can ensure everyday that it is clean (doesn't have any glass etc in it). In other parks - e.g. St. Andrews & Canford - they have park-keepers who can do this but where sandpits have been put in across the city & there isn't supervision of them, used needles & other undesirable items have been found buried in them etc. In the long term - we are campaigning for a park-keeper to be brought back to Horfield Common, but until we get this - we didn't put a sandpit into our comments for that reason. Sam
1. The surface needs to be solid where the existing concrete area is & use bark or a similar material in any areas extended from that. The floor area must not be grass-matting. The current proposed surface is not suitable for all round use & the play area at the top of Horfield Common is experiencing significant problems because of the use of this as the flooring.
2. We would like additional traditional swings (toddler & older children’s) added in to the design. Additionally, we would like the designers to consider the inclusion of natural 'barriers' e.g low earth mounds to prevent balls rolling under the swings or children on scooters doing the same as the site is on a slope.
3. We would like the designers to consider additional low/no cost natural environment play features as part of the landscape design in the final play area design installed (e.g long grass)
4. Move the fence boundary approx 4ft from the bottom (furthest from Kellaway Avenue) boundary so there is access to the gate at the back of the houses on Kellaway/Highfield Lane through which dog walkers can access the common without needing to go through a dog-free area.
5. Provide more seating for carers/parents near to the entrance/exit.
6. We would like a treehouse (one is featured in the Wickstead design - does Sutcliffe also make one?) added into the designs if possible.
7. We would prefer that large logs/natural materials were used for the proposed 'teen seating area' rather than anything permanent. There is not support for equipment/specific features being sited outside of this play area & would prefer that any money was spent on play equipment inside the play area.
8. We would like BCC Parks to consider planting inside the play area e.g wildflowers around the fencing line/edges to encourage biodiversity/wildlife. Can this be undertaken at the same time as building the new area?
9. We would like the dead tree which is currently located in this play area to be replaced so that as this establishes, there is additional shade provided for hot weather.
10. The aim of including a teen seating area was to ensure that young people 'hanging out' on the common in the evenings have somewhere to sit, other than the play area & it's location at the top end of the common was to ensure that this provision is visible from the road for passive surveillance - as recommended by the police. When originally agreed, this was on the other side of the Ardagh entrance road, further away from the housing and not within 'shouting distance' of the play area. As this is envisaged as a set of large tree-trunks/logs rather than permanent fixtures on the common - this would also provide additional seating during the day time away from the play area. The original site rather than that included in this consultation.
To see the notes of the full feedback from our Open Meeting on Monday 7 October 2013 about each play area design, as well as general feedback on all of them - see here
To send your comments in to BCC - please e-mail Mark.Owen@bristol.gov.uk before the deadline of 25th October 2013
2. We would like additional traditional swings (toddler & older children’s) added in to the design. Additionally, we would like the designers to consider the inclusion of natural 'barriers' e.g low earth mounds to prevent balls rolling under the swings or children on scooters doing the same as the site is on a slope.
3. We would like the designers to consider additional low/no cost natural environment play features as part of the landscape design in the final play area design installed (e.g long grass)
4. Move the fence boundary approx 4ft from the bottom (furthest from Kellaway Avenue) boundary so there is access to the gate at the back of the houses on Kellaway/Highfield Lane through which dog walkers can access the common without needing to go through a dog-free area.
5. Provide more seating for carers/parents near to the entrance/exit.
6. We would like a treehouse (one is featured in the Wickstead design - does Sutcliffe also make one?) added into the designs if possible.
7. We would prefer that large logs/natural materials were used for the proposed 'teen seating area' rather than anything permanent. There is not support for equipment/specific features being sited outside of this play area & would prefer that any money was spent on play equipment inside the play area.
8. We would like BCC Parks to consider planting inside the play area e.g wildflowers around the fencing line/edges to encourage biodiversity/wildlife. Can this be undertaken at the same time as building the new area?
9. We would like the dead tree which is currently located in this play area to be replaced so that as this establishes, there is additional shade provided for hot weather.
10. The aim of including a teen seating area was to ensure that young people 'hanging out' on the common in the evenings have somewhere to sit, other than the play area & it's location at the top end of the common was to ensure that this provision is visible from the road for passive surveillance - as recommended by the police. When originally agreed, this was on the other side of the Ardagh entrance road, further away from the housing and not within 'shouting distance' of the play area. As this is envisaged as a set of large tree-trunks/logs rather than permanent fixtures on the common - this would also provide additional seating during the day time away from the play area. The original site rather than that included in this consultation.
To see the notes of the full feedback from our Open Meeting on Monday 7 October 2013 about each play area design, as well as general feedback on all of them - see here
To send your comments in to BCC - please e-mail Mark.Owen@bristol.gov.uk before the deadline of 25th October 2013
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FOHC's view to date:
We don't have a preference for any of the proposed play areas over any others, and are waiting to hear from our members as to which of these they prefer - and why - in terms of equipment and play, before putting forward any view on these.
However, there are a few key issues that we have identified from previous consultations and feedback during the long process that has got us to this point which we would like to be considered - some of which we would particularly like your feedback on in relation to these proposals:
1. The play provision's surface: The new play area on Horfield Common near the sports centre has a grassed-mat surface which is often waterlogged & has meant that the play equipment is frequently covered in mud and is not useable when there has been wet weather. Whilst we do not propose that the concrete surface is extended, we would like to see it retained so that this play area is available and fit for purpose year round.
2. The inclusion of a good size, dog free informal play area: We are really pleased to see this included in the designs and believe that this will meet a need which has been repeatedly identified by users of Horfield Common for an area which is guaranteed to be dog-poo free and where smaller children, toddler and babies can roll around on the grass without worrying about this. It also offers more space for games and play which is enclosed and therefore which means that small children cannot run into the road, or the car-park etc while still being able to play on grass.
3. Gates for vehicular access: We would like to see wide access gates built into the fence-line around the area (towards the bottom end/informal play area) so that if there is any need for further maintenance in the future - these can be opened/unlocked by BCC Parks rather than needing to fund further expensive and potentially disruptive work. This will also mean that in the event of an accident in the play area, emergency vehicular access would be possible and also that if any of the residents at the bottom end do need to replace back fences etc in the future - BCC Parks could open these to enable access.
4. Retention of the existing swings' frames: As health and safety regulations have changed over time, the allowable height of the frames used for swing structures in children's play areas has been considerably reduced. In our opinion (and that of the play experts we have spoken to about the play area over the last 5 years) these offer a poorer quality of play. Therefore - we would like to see the existing metal frames for the swings in the play area retained (these are in good condition and could be simply refurbished/repainted) and new play equipment hung from them, rather than them being replaced.
5. Play for children with disabilities: We are particularly keen to hear from any local families with children who have disabilities as to the suitability of the 5 play areas for their needs. Whilst it is not designed as a fully inclusive play facility, we would like to support the area being as inclusive as possible, so please do let us know if you have any particular comments or suggestions in relation to this.
6. Older children's recreation area: Following feedback during the previous consultation to agree the location of the play area, it was proposed that a separate seating area could be provided for older children/teenagers which provided an area where they can meet and spend time away from the play area itself. This was initially proposed to be a collection of large logs laid in a circle which were also visible from the road (Police guidelines encourage any play areas to be visible for drive-by supervision) and which could be easily relocated (rather than permanent fixtures) if any anti-social behaviour problems became apparent after their introduction. Each of the below proposals has interpreted this in a different way & we would be very interested to hear your views on this to make sure that we are able to represent local views accurately.
7. Play suitable for the full range of age groups from 0-12: The play area is aimed at children and young people from ages 0-12. Each of the proposals puts forward different equipment which will provide a range of more/less challenging play. Do all of the proposals provide suitable and challenging play opportunities for this full age range? Again - we would be very interested to know your views on this.
Friends of Horfield Common, 23rd October 2013
We don't have a preference for any of the proposed play areas over any others, and are waiting to hear from our members as to which of these they prefer - and why - in terms of equipment and play, before putting forward any view on these.
However, there are a few key issues that we have identified from previous consultations and feedback during the long process that has got us to this point which we would like to be considered - some of which we would particularly like your feedback on in relation to these proposals:
1. The play provision's surface: The new play area on Horfield Common near the sports centre has a grassed-mat surface which is often waterlogged & has meant that the play equipment is frequently covered in mud and is not useable when there has been wet weather. Whilst we do not propose that the concrete surface is extended, we would like to see it retained so that this play area is available and fit for purpose year round.
2. The inclusion of a good size, dog free informal play area: We are really pleased to see this included in the designs and believe that this will meet a need which has been repeatedly identified by users of Horfield Common for an area which is guaranteed to be dog-poo free and where smaller children, toddler and babies can roll around on the grass without worrying about this. It also offers more space for games and play which is enclosed and therefore which means that small children cannot run into the road, or the car-park etc while still being able to play on grass.
3. Gates for vehicular access: We would like to see wide access gates built into the fence-line around the area (towards the bottom end/informal play area) so that if there is any need for further maintenance in the future - these can be opened/unlocked by BCC Parks rather than needing to fund further expensive and potentially disruptive work. This will also mean that in the event of an accident in the play area, emergency vehicular access would be possible and also that if any of the residents at the bottom end do need to replace back fences etc in the future - BCC Parks could open these to enable access.
4. Retention of the existing swings' frames: As health and safety regulations have changed over time, the allowable height of the frames used for swing structures in children's play areas has been considerably reduced. In our opinion (and that of the play experts we have spoken to about the play area over the last 5 years) these offer a poorer quality of play. Therefore - we would like to see the existing metal frames for the swings in the play area retained (these are in good condition and could be simply refurbished/repainted) and new play equipment hung from them, rather than them being replaced.
5. Play for children with disabilities: We are particularly keen to hear from any local families with children who have disabilities as to the suitability of the 5 play areas for their needs. Whilst it is not designed as a fully inclusive play facility, we would like to support the area being as inclusive as possible, so please do let us know if you have any particular comments or suggestions in relation to this.
6. Older children's recreation area: Following feedback during the previous consultation to agree the location of the play area, it was proposed that a separate seating area could be provided for older children/teenagers which provided an area where they can meet and spend time away from the play area itself. This was initially proposed to be a collection of large logs laid in a circle which were also visible from the road (Police guidelines encourage any play areas to be visible for drive-by supervision) and which could be easily relocated (rather than permanent fixtures) if any anti-social behaviour problems became apparent after their introduction. Each of the below proposals has interpreted this in a different way & we would be very interested to hear your views on this to make sure that we are able to represent local views accurately.
7. Play suitable for the full range of age groups from 0-12: The play area is aimed at children and young people from ages 0-12. Each of the proposals puts forward different equipment which will provide a range of more/less challenging play. Do all of the proposals provide suitable and challenging play opportunities for this full age range? Again - we would be very interested to know your views on this.
Friends of Horfield Common, 23rd October 2013
