Planning Gain Proposal

Title:


Allocation of Lionthorn Planning Gain

Key Issues:

Following on from the recent publication and public meeting on the proposed spend of the planning gain fund. Residents have raised a number of serious reservations/objections around the Council plan for an extensive extended play area. The joint residents associations have consulted with residents and worked closely with Councillor Patrick to develop an alternative proposal.

The Proposal is built around 3 main themes, Community, Safety and Environment. There main 4 elements to it are :

1. (Community) The erection of a community resource centre at Fox Covet Lionthorn Woodland for use as a resource centre including ground works, furnishing and contribution to future costs.

2. (Community/Environment ) Community Garden at the east end of Lionthorn

3. Upgrade Existing/Proposed Play Areas including a kick pitch


4. (Safety) The contracting of Falkirk Council to repair and make safe the speed restrictions on Glengarry Crescent and the repair of damages walling around the area.

5. (Environment) Remaining funds to be used to contract Council/Greenbelt to carry out additional planting and fish stocking.




Action Required:

Residents can provide comment on the proposal



Background detail:

The proposal is based on adding long term value and benefit to all residents both now and in the future. The opportunity to show that the Council, Residents and Greenbelt can work effectively together is one of the key founding blocks of the proposal

1. Community Resource Centre
The proposed centre would be a log cabin style to blend into the local surroundings. The facilities would include one private meeting room, one large meeting area, toilet and kitchen area.

KEOPPS & Finn forest both provide suitable cabins. KEOPPS enable you to design your own cabin.

Benefits
Multi use hall can be used by:
- Woodland Rangers
- Lionthorn Community Woodland Group
- Lionthorn Community Council
- Local Schools to use as a resource centre
- Groups like Falkirk School of Kung Fu
- Lionthorn Residents Association
- Local cllrs surgeries

This spend will have long term benefits that be available to all future residents
PR opportunity for Council, Greenbelt and Residents Association to show joined up working.
Opportunity to hire out hall to local residents for children’s parties & community classes (dance, martial arts, keep fit etc.)
Private room
Toilet
Large meeting area
Kitchen
Furnishings
As a minimum:
The private room would consist of office furniture (desk & 4 chairs, filing cabinets)
Kitchen area – would have sink, fridge, 2 cupboards and would be stocked with kettle, mugs & spoons
Large meeting area would require approx. 25 stackable chairs & 3 large collapsible tables

Considerations

Half a dozen car park spaces would be required
Security provisions – alarms, fencing, windows protected, monitored systems
Maintenance – structural & internal
Cleaning
Management – collection of fees, co-ordinating bookings, policing use, securing building

We would like the council to take on responsibility for the building once the building is operational & paid for initially from planning gain.

2. Community Garden

There is a large area of unused land at the east end of the estate that could be utilised for a community garden area. The estate would benefit greatly from the area being ‘tidied up’ and put to good use.

Not only would it be an attractive entrance to the Lionthorn estate, it would provide an additional outdoor space available to the local community. Consultation with local children would be fostered to give them ownership of the space encouraging them to become involved in the development and upkeep of the area.

Benefits

Improves the overall appearance of the estate
Opportunity to develop more outdoor space that can be enjoyed by the local community
Encourages more residents to become actively involved within the Lionthorn community

3. Upgrade Existing/Proposed Play Areas

The play area in Achray Drive currently has bark as a ground surface however this is proving to be unsuitable. A new rubber surface would be much safer and more durable for the play park which experiences regular use. The new surface would also neaten up the park area and require less maintenance than the existing surface.

Funding would also be made available to add another play area at the Venacher place open space, as detailed on original plans. This would provide an addition play park within the estate that would benefit from the added security of being surrounded by houses.

In addition the buildings of a kick pitch as per the original plans at the entrance to Fox Covert. However this should be paid for by Persimmon as it was in their plan.

The residents associations would also consider a scaled down play area of some description at this site.

Benefits

· Areas become safer for children to play
· More activities for the local residents


3. Road proposals

The current speed bumps around Glengarry Crescent are a major cause of compliant to residents. The natures of the bumps mean that wheels are effectively caught between two kerb stones. The residents value the speed restricting methods but feel that they cause excessive impact to vehicles. It is also proposed that a mini roundabout (raised paint)is placed at the point where Glengarry Crescent splits. There have been a series of very near misses and road rage incidents where residents have not given way to traffic from the right.

It is proposed that the kerb stones are removed and a smooth tar macadam ramp is used.

The Roads department have been contacted for consultation.

Benefits

Reduced potential for claims against the Council for car damage
Reduced cost to Council as improvement work will be paid for by residents, some work will need to be carried out in the near future to repair existing ramps.
Clearer road markings
Happier residents
PR opportunity for Council and Residents Association to show joined up working


4. Wall reconstruction and tidy up

There are a number of damaged walls and eye sores around the area. In particular, the wall at Graeme Place (near to the bus stop at the west end of Lionthorn Road) which needs reconstructing. Bricks from this wall have been used as missiles thrown at cars and have been placed in the road and bus stop area with the intent to cause damage to vehicles. The wall at the post box in the middle of Lionthorn Road has been missing coping stones for a number of years. The coping stones are all there, they just need to be refitted and secured.

Any additional funds can be used to plant out the green areas with the assistance of Greenbelt and tidy up the gorse bush area that runs the length of Lionthorn Road and parallel to Farquharson Way/Glengarry Crescent. This area is currently very untidy and would benefit from a sympathetic replanting.

If funds allow ornamental or native fish could also be stocked into the main suds ponds in the Persimmon/Scotia estate to add interest to the water features.

Dialog is underway with Greenbelt to establish which species of fish will best suit the water conditions. It may be that this is carried out in a phased approach with the initial introduction of fresh water muscles to increase water quality.

In addition to the stocking of the suds, the purchase & installation of a pontoon to allow ducks to be fed in the shallow sud with secure fencing should also be built

Benefits

Area is tidied up and looks fresher
Less likelihood of damage being caused by loose and dangerous building material
Adding fish to suds will increase wild life diversity and also decrease excessive insect life
PR opportunity for Council, Greenbelt and Residents Association to show joined up working