Funding for Deep Dene improvements

Mon Sep 6 2010 12:50 BST

Deep Dene (or is it Deepdene?) - a small green space in Bitterne Park off Midanbury Lane and Cobden Avenue - will benefit from Ł12K for improvements. Park users are also being urged to set up their own 'friends’ group' to steer development and secure further funding.

According to a “consultation draft management plan” for Deep Dene (available to download from bitternepark.info below), prepared by Southampton City Council’s Neighbourhood Services and “key park stakeholder groups”, there is currently Ł12,000 of developer contributions on the table for improvements.

Vandalism in June 2010 at Deep Dene: the report says residents have expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour on the site, but although there is some vandalism it doesn’t appear to be widespread at Deep Dene.

The plan envisages that, with the input of the local residents, this could either be used directly to fund improvements, or be part of future match funding bids.¹

Friends

“Although there is currently no official ‘friends of’ group, the Bitterne Park Residents’ group are very keen to see that improvements occur in the park. There is also a Friends of Riverside Park group based in the nearby park.”

“There is therefore potential for these two groups to help to support the maintenance teams through reporting faults, litter picking and other physical maintenance tasks throughout the year,” suggests the document^2.

Park users yet to comment

The report says the Bitterne Park Residents' Association originally contacted the Council to let them know how loved the park is, but that they consider it to be in need of some improvement. However "official feedback" from park users has yet to be gathered.

Proposals for action³ include:
   welcome signs at the two main entrances, and creating a “formal gate feature”
   removing the current play area, and “re-providing natural play through out woodland”
   working with residents’ groups to carry out user audits to “shape and lead designs”.

Play equipment: time for something new?

The Bitterne Park Residents’ Association is seeking to meet the Council to discuss the plan further.

You can download the 25-page draft consultation plan direct from bitternepark.info as a PDF (2.6mb).

Feel free to comment below, but to have your say to the Council, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. using Deep Dene Management Plan as the subject.

1 — page 11
2 — page 11/12
3 — page 21

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