Investment of £120K in makeover for Verulamium Park playground
The City Neighbourhoods Committee (CNC) has finalised an award of £120,400 for Verulamium at Play’s project to redesign and replace the playground in St Albans’ flagship park.
The CNC’s award represents a significant contribution to the charity’s fundraising goal of £250,000 to revamp the playground at Verulamium Park.
Verulamium at Play has already raised £56,000 and has identified other possible funding sources, including section 106 funding from developers. Anyone wanting to support the project or to offer a donation can contact the organisers via the charity’s website.
The CNC oversees the management of local assets in the City centre, including some parks, public toilets and allotments, on behalf of St Albans City and District Council.
The CNC’s contribution to the project is part of a wider work programme for the future maintenance of playgrounds agreed at its meeting on Wednesday 21 March.
It has allocated £316,000 from its budget for 2018/19 to be spent on the cost maintaining and replacing playgrounds.
This allocation was made possible due to an increase in the CNC’s Special Expenses budget which is its main source of revenue.
Cllr Alun Davies, Chair of the City Neighbourhoods Committee, said:
I am delighted that the CNC has designated these funds towards Verulamium at Play’s project to radically overhaul the playground at St Albans’ Verulamium Park. This investment shows the Council’s commitment to our main City centre park.
At Wednesday’s CNC meeting, members also discussed vehicle rights of way across Sandridge Road Manorial Wastes (the Wastes) and management policies for the area.
They received a background report explaining that the Wastes are owned by the District Council. The area is subject to a restrictive covenant preventing buildings or other constructions on the land. Over the years, some easements have been granted across it to allow people vehicular access to their homes. A number of local organisations have raised concerns about management of the Wastes and the construction of hard surface access routes for vehicles. These include St Albans Civic Society, the Friends of Bernard Heath and the Sandridge Road Residents’ Association.
Cllr Davies added:
The Committee had an extremely constructive discussion at our meeting. The outcome of which is that a report with council officer recommendations will be presented at our next meeting on 27 June. We will then make a decision on how to manage the Wastes going forward. I welcome comments, questions and suggestions from any resident or interested party. These can be sent to the lead officer or me by the end of April so that the paper and recommendations can be finalised.
The lead officer is Joe Tavernier, the Council’s Head of Community Services. He can be contacted by email at joe.tavernier@stalbans.gov.uk.
The agenda and supporting papers for the meeting on Wednesday 21 March are available online on the Council’s website. The meeting was also webcast.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Alun Davies, Chair of the City Neighbourhoods Committee of St Albans City and District Council
Tel 07779 616006, Email: cllr.a.davies@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson, Senior Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317, E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
Notes:
City Neighbourhoods Committee
The City Neighbourhoods Committee (CNC) makes decisions on issues affecting residents in the eight unparished wards of St Albans District. These are: Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Cunningham, Marshalswick South, Sopwell, St Peters and Verulam. The CNC’s remit is non-strategic City assets including smaller parks, war memorials, allotments, public conveniences, playgrounds and open spaces. The CNC includes elected Councillors and representatives from residents’ associations meeting certain criteria.
Verulamium at Play
More information about Verulamium at Play’s project is available at: http://verulamiumatplay.org.uk