Future of parkland under the spotlight

By Jonathan Schofield Saturday, July 24, 2010
12:00 PM

A PUBLIC consultation on the future of a much loved park in the centre of a Suffolk market town will be held next week.

Babergh District Council representatives will be in Belle Vue Park on Thursday, July 29, from 10.30am to 4.30pm to gauge views on the future of The Putting Green area of the park.

The consultation follows one held by the town council which concluded that adult exercise equipment and a sandpit, funded by Section 106 planning gain money, should be installed.

A spokesman from Babergh said the town council’s ideas were “likely” to be going ahead alongside any further developments.

He added: “The fitness equipment and sand pit will not fill the whole of the old putting green and we want to develop the whole area in a coordinated way. Sudbury Town Council has been kept fully informed of our intentions and is very much a partner in this venture.”

Jo Seymour, Babergh’s horticultural officer, said the council was keen to find out how the residents of Sudbury and users of the park would like to see the park develop over the next five to ten years.

She said: “Babergh has had numerous requests from individuals for specific items and we wish to see if these would be genuinely popular improvements.”

Sue Brotherwood, clerk of Sudbury Town Council, said she was concerned the views of the town were being overlooked when she heard about Babergh’s consultation.

She said: “I’m really pleased Babergh is taking on our ideas. If further development on our proposals can be implemented it will only be better for everyone.”

According to Babergh funding for any revamp has already been secured through capital funding and there could be further money available from Section 106 development money if there is sufficient support from residents and park users.

Views can also be expressed on an on-line questionnaire at www.babergh.gov.uk.