On Tuesday, 26th October, the Parish Council will be holding a working group meeting for the development of the playground. This will be an initial physical meeting so volunteers can join the sub groups described below, such that we aim to complete the Playground development in the next 2 years.
I have spoken to, and understand that a number of Batheaston residents are itching to contribute to this project and this meeting aims to channel this hitherto underutilised skills and energy, into positive action.
As it stands, the Parish Council is obtaining quotes for work to be done in the short term, including a new slide and climbing rope. This will not be part of our remit. Our role will be in the Phase 2 development for the playground and surrounding amenities, which as it stands, is an open book. I am currently negotiating with potential fund raising specialists and will have more news on how we will progress with that closer to the event, with the objective that there will be sufficient funds to meet all our objectives.
On the night, I as Lead, will ask for volunteers 3 sub-groups.
- Design. Grow Batheaston has kindly offered use of their design. There will also be other residents with ideas and we have a list of priorities from surveys that will need to be incorporated into any final design used. This group will have a time limited objective of 6 months.
- Procurement: Catherine McCarthy, with support from the Clerk, Richard Maccabee, will chair this group that will obtain quotes, manage the selection process for those quotes and manage the successful bids’ implementation. This group will also have a deadline to have spent up to £25,000 of Enovert grant money by December 2022 and, before then we would expect to have more funding for further tranches of Phase 2 development.
- Communications: this group, led by Council Chair, Hannah Squire will be tasked with keeping residents updated on progress. It will also have the remit to organise community engagement and fund raising events.
How these groups meet will be for them to decide what works best for their members. The thinking is that they will research, scrutinise and undertake their designated tasks and agree on single proposals, which will, if necessary, be brought to Council for approval, with limited, if any need for its own scrutiny.
The meeting will be at 7:15pm on Tuesday 26th October at the Rhymes Pavilion on Coalpit Road.
Cllr Alexis Pavlou,
Batheaston Parish Council