Outdoor Access and Play Area Improvements 2023- 2026 ILE 30 08 23
Renfrewshire Council · 30 August 2023
Back to Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board — 30 August 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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To: Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board On: 30 August 2023 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure __________________________________________________________________ Heading: Outdoor Access and Play Area Improvements 2023- 2026 __________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Reports were submitted to the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Board on 26 May 2021 and 25 August 2021, setting out the planned investment programme to the improvements play areas. In addition, investment in a further 6 planned playparks was agreed at the Board of 24 May 2023 with a further 4 play parks being renewed as part of the #YouDecide project. 1.2 The purpose of this report is to update on progress of the planned investments, as agreed at previous boards and to seek approval for the proposed programme of renewal/refurbishment of playparks from 2024/25 until 2025/26. 1.3 Since 2021 the Council has invested £2,728,000 in the renewal and refurbishment of its play parks with 25 play parks being completed so far, and a further investment of £995,000 planned for 2023/24. A further 10 play parks will be refurbished/renewed in 2023/24. 1.4 The Council has allocated £350,000 capital towards the investment in playparks in 2023/24 with a further £307,000 being granted from the Scottish Governments capital allocation for renewal of play parks. 1.5 The Scottish Government has committed further sums of capital allocation for renewal of play parks of £461,000 for 2024/25 and £768,000 for 2025/26. 1.6 The Nature Restoration Fund for 2023/24 will supplement the open space strategy works with £100,000 being allocated to remove redundant play equipment in
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unsuitable areas in order to enhance the sites for biodiversity with habitat and species restoration. 1.7 If any future investments are allocated, then the proposed programme of replacement will be accelerated. __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board: 2.1 Agree the planned programme of works for renewal and refurbishment of play areas and the priorities for investment from 2024/25 and beyond, as detailed in appendix 1 of this report. This will be subject to the current capital allocation of grant continuing from the Scottish Government for 2024-26. 2.2 Agree that officers will have delegated powers to escalate the programme based on need and condition of the remaining play parks and to change the order of replacement based on any unexpected significant failures identified through regular health and safety inspections. 2.3 Agree the play areas which are not suitable for refurbishment, identified in appendix 2 will be removed and the land reinstated for biodiversity and habitat restoration. __________________________________________________________________ 3. Park Investment 3.1 The Council agreed in March 2021, as part of its budget, to invest £1.5 million to support improvements in outdoor access and play areas. A sum of £1.142 million has been committed directly on play park investments and this was supplemented by Scottish Government grants of £158,000 in 2021/22 and £155,000 in 2022/23. 3.2 The previous report set out programmes of work for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The investment has resulted in 13 play areas completely renewed, 1 refurbished and a further 3 currently in Procurement. 3.3 The priorities for investment in 2023/24 have been outlined in appendix 1. 3.4 A number of existing old play areas are not suitable for renewal, either as a result of poor conditions of the surrounding land, being sited in remote locations or having restricted access that can’t easily be improved. It is proposed that these old play areas are restored with £100k of Nature Restoration Funds from the 2023/24 Scottish Government grant allocation. This will allow the removal of any remaining out of date/ end of life play equipment and surfaces and enhance the sites for biodiversity with habitat and species restoration.
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Implications of this report 1. Financial – Capital funding has been provided by the Council for 2023/24 and the Scottish Government have committed further capital grants for 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 for play park renewal. Additional Scottish Government capital has been committed for Nature Restoration for 2023/24. 2. HR and Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Our Renfrewshire is well - the service encourages use of our parks and open spaces to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. It supports communities to have their voice heard and influence the places and services that affect them. Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy - Developing strong community-based services that respond to local need. This is closely aligned to the ‘sustainable and connected’ priority of the Renfrewshire Community Plan which seeks to ‘listen and respond to the needs of communities, and partners.’ 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – There will be a significant improvement in Council owned play park assets. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights – The recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report as the proposals recognise individual arrangements that would have to be accommodated due to particular circumstances. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety – None. 9. Procurement – Works will be instructed using the Scotland Excel Frameworks or through a standard Renfrewshire Council tender process. 10. Risk – The programme of works is based on the assumption that the Scottish Government will continue to the pay capital allocation for renewal of play parks from 2023-26 as detailed in the confirmation letter of 31 August 2022. 11. Privacy Impact – None
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12. Cosla Policy Position – None 13. Climate Risk – The Council’s green space has a key role to play in supporting the delivery of park improvements and the Council’s ambitious actions to tackle climate change. List of Background Papers: None Author: Karen Anderson, Sustainability, Place and Assets Manager
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Appendix 1 Play Park Renewal & Improvement 2021 – 2026 1 Completed Renewal of Play Area Progress from 2021 Ward Play Area 1 Campbell Street, Renfrew 2 Tinto Square, Renfrew 3 East End Park, Paisley 4 Glencoats Park, Paisley 4 Maxwellton Park, Paisley 5 Ben Lawers (Hawkhead Park), Paisley 6 Crags Road, Paisley 6 Neighbourhood Park (Skye Crescent), Paisley 7 Durrockstock Park, Paisley 7 Green Road (Morar Drive), Paisley 8 Dunvegan Avenue, Elderslie 8 Elm Drive / Sycamore Avenue, Johnstone 8 Queens Road, Elderslie 8 Spateston, Johnstone 9 Ellerslie Street, Johnstone 9 Howwood Park, Howwood 9 Kilbarchan Park, Kilbarchan 9 Lochwinnoch Park, Lochwinnoch 9 Sandyflats, Johnstone 10 Ardgryffe, Houston 10 South Mound (Helicopter Park), Houston 11 Churchill Drive, Bishopton 11 Moss Road Park, B.O.W. 12 Barwood Park, Erskine 12 Bargarran, Erskine 12 Park Mains, Parkhill, Erskine 2023/24 Programme Ward Play Area Proposal 1 Anne Avenue (Charles Avenue), Renfrew Renewal 1 Urquhart Crescent, Renfrew Part Renewal / Refurbishment 1 Millburn Way (Glebe Street), Renfrew Renewal (#YouDecide) 2 Victory Gardens, Renfrew Renewal 2 Netherhill Road, Paisley Renewal 4 South Candren Village Green, Paisley Renewal (#YouDecide) 5 Jenny’s Well, Paisley Renewal (#YouDecide) 8 Benston Place (Tannahill Crescent), Johnstone Renewal
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Appendix 1 Play Park Renewal & Improvement 2021 – 2026 2 9 Miller Street, Johnstone Renewal 9 Howwood Toddler / Junior, Howwood 2023/24 programme 10 Houston Public Park, Houston 2023/24 programme 11 Station Road, Langbank Renewal (#YouDecide) 12 Inchinnan Playing Fields, Inchinnan 2023/24 programme 2024/25 Programme Ward Play Area Proposal 3 Barshaw Park, Laura’s Playpark, Paisley Renewal 6 Braids Road, Paisley Part Renewal / Part Refurbishment 8 Elm Drive / Maple Drive, Johnstone Renewal 8 Poplar Avenue, Johnstone Renewal 2025/26 Programme Ward Play Area Proposal 1 Robertson Park Original, Renfrew (Castle) Renewal 1 KGV Playing Field, Renfrew Renewal 3 Barshaw BMX Track, Paisley Upgrade (Convert to pump track) 3 McKerrell Street, Paisley Renewal / New Location 4 Ferguslie Gardens Bottom Play Area, Paisley Part Refurbishment 7 Green Road (Morar Drive) – Toddler, Paisley Renewal 7 Braehead Rd, Paisley New Play Area 8 Elderslie West (Old Road), Elderslie Renewal 10 Campbell Street, Johnstone Renewal 10 East Fulton, Linwood New Play Area 11 Lyle Crescent, Bishopton Renewal 11 Stuart Road, Bishopton Renewal 12 Millfield Meadows, Erskine Renewal
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Appendix 2 List of Play Parks Proposed for Complete Removal & Land Restoration 2023/24 Proposals to be Funded From the Nature Restoration Fund Ward Play Area Address Proposed Action Potential Future Use 1 Castlehill Orchard Street, Renfrew Complete removal Biodiversity. Feature trees and wildflowers 5 Saucelhill Park Saucelhill Terrace, Paisley Complete removal Biodiversity. Wildflower areas with feature trees. 6 Burnfoot Crescent Burnfoot Crescent, Paisley Complete removal Nature restoration 10 Berl Avenue Berl Avenue, Houston Complete removal Nature restoration 10 Erskinefauld Rd B Erskinefauld Road, Linwood Complete removal Biodiversity landscaped area with seats. 11 Anderson Road Anderson Road, Bishopton Complete removal Nature restoration 12 Balmedie Barhill Road / Rashieglen, Erskine Complete removal Nature restoration 12 Park Winding Park Winding, Erskine Complete removal Biodiversity. Tree planting but not close to houses. Future Proposals to be Considered for Funding Ward Play Area Address Proposed Action Potential Future Use 1 Fulbar Avenue Fulbar Avenue, Renfrew Complete removal Low maintenance Landscaping 1 Robertson Park – Craigielea Rd Craigielea Road, Renfrew Complete removal Nature restoration 7 Waverly Road Waverly Road / Amochrie Road, Paisley Remove play equipment now and re‐purpose area as outdoor gym in future. Outdoor Gym or other teen facility 10 Cowal Drive Cowal Drive, Linwood Complete removal Development proposal which will lead to removal. 11 Camphill Gardens Camphill Gardens, Bishopton NB. Play area in private ownership. Maintained historically but may need to remove if residents unwilling to adopt. Hand over to residents or complete removal. Nature restoration of site depending on outcome of consult with residents.