LIONTHORN ESTATE
8th, October 2008
On 5th October 2008, a house within Mitchell Place was damaged as a result of persons trying to break in. No entry was gained and no property was stolen.
Please be aware of this and report any persons seen acting suspiciously within the area.
Residents should ensure they lock their houses at night, do not leave keys within the door, close and lock windows, leave security lights on and set alarms.
If anyone requires security advice please do not hesitate to contact me.
It is part of the role of community police to visit persons to provide free security advice.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Monday, 6 October 2008
Council Update
Lionthorn Planning Gain Newsletter (Issue 3) Autumn 2008
Background
Falkirk Council are in the process of deciding the most appropriate way to enhance community facilities and the environment in Lionthorn and surrounding areas, using the remaining £310,000 of planning gain money which was secured in conjunction with housing development in the area.
Fox Covert Recreation Area - Consultants Feasibility Study
You may recall at the beginning of 2008 the Council appointed landscape consultants to assess the feasibility of providing an adventure play area, adjacent to the Fox Covert. This study responded to feedback from community consultation in 2006 when there was strong support for an exciting play park in a central location. The brief asked the consultants to provide three options with varying emphasis for the Fox Covert site with a maximum project budget of £250,000. The consultant’s feasibility report is now complete.
The table below summarises the options:
Option 1 • Adventure play park, enhanced kick about area & car parking.
• Utilises existing landscape features and includes equipment such as cableway, climbing wall and slides.
• Encompasses whole area south of Lionthorn Road adjacent to Fox Covert.
• Capital cost £234,600
Option 2 • A scaled down version of option 1 seeking to address the concerns of adjacent residents.
• The play equipment is moved away from residential properties and replaces the car parking area.
• The enhanced kick about area remains.
• Capital cost £225,000
Option 3 • Minimal scheme concentrating on kick about area and car parking.
• No play equipment is provided.
• Capital cost £70,900
Local residents had an early opportunity to view the proposals contained in Option 1 at a drop-in event held in Hallglen Primary School in February 2008. The event was well attended and whilst many residents were supportive of the design, those residents living closest were firmly opposed to the play area. Their concerns focused upon fears of anti-social behaviour, and impact on privacy and the environment. The consultants attempted to address these concerns in the subsequent preparation of Options 2 & 3.
Mindful of the opposition to the Fox Covert site, the Council also asked the consultants to consider the feasibility of relocating the play area elsewhere. Suggested alternative locations included:
• Bantaskine Park
• Policy Bing
• Princes Park
• Hallglen Recreation Area – South of Lionthorn Road
• Hallglen Recreation Area – North of Lionthorn Road
The consultants felt that the Hallglen site north of Lionthorn Road was worthy of further site investigation, however the other sites were rejected as unsuitable for the provision of a play area of the type envisaged.
After careful consideration of the options contained in the feasibility study, the unanimous level of opposition to the project from the neighbouring residents, and more general lack of support in the community it was felt it would not be appropriate to proceed with a play area at the Fox Covert.
What next?
Council Officers have recently met with representatives of the Lionthorn Residents Association to discuss the way forward. Following rejection of the Fox Covert play area, the Council’s proposed course of action now is to split the resources between one major project which can make a significant improvement to recreational amenity and a range of smaller projects dispersed throughout the community. These are described in more detail on the following table:
POTENTIAL MAJOR PROJECT
Policy Bing
Proposal – Pitch(s) / Multi Court and landscaping.
• The Policy Bing is sufficiently far from residential properties, however is easily accessible by foot/bike along the adjacent footpath which is being upgraded.
• It is currently an under-utilised resource, however with the proper investment could be a valuable community facility.
• It is likely that investment in the Policy Bing site could attract significant match funding from Sports Scotland / other sources.
• It is an established recreation facility which is proposed for upgrading in the Local Plan.
• Plenty of space so project has potential to grow.
• This project would require further site investigations to be undertaken, especially in terms of ground conditions and define the level and phasing of facilities.
POTENTIAL SMALLER SCALE PROJECTS
Hallglen Recreation Area North& South of Lionthorn Road
Proposal – Landscape and Environmental Improvements
• Potential in this location for tree planting, habitat creation, paths, wild flower garden etc.
• There may be scope for limited play equipment.
• This project will require further investigation to assess its feasibility.
• Suggest project is taken forward in consultation with CSFT.
• Discussion will be required with Housing Services who own site.
Fox Covert (Car Parking Area)
Proposal – 6-10 car parking spaces and woodland walk interpretation boards. • This proposal would give the opportunity to enhance and formalise an area which is already utilised for car parking.
• No play facilities would be provided.
Upgrade existing play areas
Proposal – There is potential to enhance existing play facilities at Glengarry Crescent & Achray Drive. • The scope of this project needs investigation.
General environmental improvements
Proposal – Money to be used as and when projects come forward.
• Some of the suggestions put forward by the Residents Association include:
• Repair wall at Graeme Place.
• Tidy up the gorse bush area along Lionthorn Road/parallel to Farquharson Way.
• Biodiversity enhancement of Wetland.
There was an aspiration for a community hall by some Lionthorn residents, this is not an option being pursued by the Council. Future management and maintenance costs would be prohibitively expensive and beyond the scope of the planning gain budget. The Residents Association also indicated that some residents would like the speed bumps around Glengarry Crescent altered, because they feel that they cause excessive impact to cars. However it is not considered that this falls within the scope of the original planning gain agreement. Moreover Road Officers in the Council do not feel that there is a strong case for altering the features which met with the relevant design guidelines when they were installed.
Update - Footway / Cycleway link to High Station
The Council has completed the section of footway north of the distributor road connecting to the railway station. It is expected that the remaining section of the route to will be completed by Persimmon this autumn. Once this section is complete the cycleway / footpath link will be fully lit.
Your comments are invited…..
We would welcome your comments on the revised proposals before reporting to the relevant Council Committee for consideration. Comments can be made in writing or submitted by email by Friday 17th October 2008 to:
Falkirk Council
Development Services
Abbotsford House
Davids Loan
Falkirk FK2 7YZ
louise.blance@falkirk.gov.uk
Background
Falkirk Council are in the process of deciding the most appropriate way to enhance community facilities and the environment in Lionthorn and surrounding areas, using the remaining £310,000 of planning gain money which was secured in conjunction with housing development in the area.
Fox Covert Recreation Area - Consultants Feasibility Study
You may recall at the beginning of 2008 the Council appointed landscape consultants to assess the feasibility of providing an adventure play area, adjacent to the Fox Covert. This study responded to feedback from community consultation in 2006 when there was strong support for an exciting play park in a central location. The brief asked the consultants to provide three options with varying emphasis for the Fox Covert site with a maximum project budget of £250,000. The consultant’s feasibility report is now complete.
The table below summarises the options:
Option 1 • Adventure play park, enhanced kick about area & car parking.
• Utilises existing landscape features and includes equipment such as cableway, climbing wall and slides.
• Encompasses whole area south of Lionthorn Road adjacent to Fox Covert.
• Capital cost £234,600
Option 2 • A scaled down version of option 1 seeking to address the concerns of adjacent residents.
• The play equipment is moved away from residential properties and replaces the car parking area.
• The enhanced kick about area remains.
• Capital cost £225,000
Option 3 • Minimal scheme concentrating on kick about area and car parking.
• No play equipment is provided.
• Capital cost £70,900
Local residents had an early opportunity to view the proposals contained in Option 1 at a drop-in event held in Hallglen Primary School in February 2008. The event was well attended and whilst many residents were supportive of the design, those residents living closest were firmly opposed to the play area. Their concerns focused upon fears of anti-social behaviour, and impact on privacy and the environment. The consultants attempted to address these concerns in the subsequent preparation of Options 2 & 3.
Mindful of the opposition to the Fox Covert site, the Council also asked the consultants to consider the feasibility of relocating the play area elsewhere. Suggested alternative locations included:
• Bantaskine Park
• Policy Bing
• Princes Park
• Hallglen Recreation Area – South of Lionthorn Road
• Hallglen Recreation Area – North of Lionthorn Road
The consultants felt that the Hallglen site north of Lionthorn Road was worthy of further site investigation, however the other sites were rejected as unsuitable for the provision of a play area of the type envisaged.
After careful consideration of the options contained in the feasibility study, the unanimous level of opposition to the project from the neighbouring residents, and more general lack of support in the community it was felt it would not be appropriate to proceed with a play area at the Fox Covert.
What next?
Council Officers have recently met with representatives of the Lionthorn Residents Association to discuss the way forward. Following rejection of the Fox Covert play area, the Council’s proposed course of action now is to split the resources between one major project which can make a significant improvement to recreational amenity and a range of smaller projects dispersed throughout the community. These are described in more detail on the following table:
POTENTIAL MAJOR PROJECT
Policy Bing
Proposal – Pitch(s) / Multi Court and landscaping.
• The Policy Bing is sufficiently far from residential properties, however is easily accessible by foot/bike along the adjacent footpath which is being upgraded.
• It is currently an under-utilised resource, however with the proper investment could be a valuable community facility.
• It is likely that investment in the Policy Bing site could attract significant match funding from Sports Scotland / other sources.
• It is an established recreation facility which is proposed for upgrading in the Local Plan.
• Plenty of space so project has potential to grow.
• This project would require further site investigations to be undertaken, especially in terms of ground conditions and define the level and phasing of facilities.
POTENTIAL SMALLER SCALE PROJECTS
Hallglen Recreation Area North& South of Lionthorn Road
Proposal – Landscape and Environmental Improvements
• Potential in this location for tree planting, habitat creation, paths, wild flower garden etc.
• There may be scope for limited play equipment.
• This project will require further investigation to assess its feasibility.
• Suggest project is taken forward in consultation with CSFT.
• Discussion will be required with Housing Services who own site.
Fox Covert (Car Parking Area)
Proposal – 6-10 car parking spaces and woodland walk interpretation boards. • This proposal would give the opportunity to enhance and formalise an area which is already utilised for car parking.
• No play facilities would be provided.
Upgrade existing play areas
Proposal – There is potential to enhance existing play facilities at Glengarry Crescent & Achray Drive. • The scope of this project needs investigation.
General environmental improvements
Proposal – Money to be used as and when projects come forward.
• Some of the suggestions put forward by the Residents Association include:
• Repair wall at Graeme Place.
• Tidy up the gorse bush area along Lionthorn Road/parallel to Farquharson Way.
• Biodiversity enhancement of Wetland.
There was an aspiration for a community hall by some Lionthorn residents, this is not an option being pursued by the Council. Future management and maintenance costs would be prohibitively expensive and beyond the scope of the planning gain budget. The Residents Association also indicated that some residents would like the speed bumps around Glengarry Crescent altered, because they feel that they cause excessive impact to cars. However it is not considered that this falls within the scope of the original planning gain agreement. Moreover Road Officers in the Council do not feel that there is a strong case for altering the features which met with the relevant design guidelines when they were installed.
Update - Footway / Cycleway link to High Station
The Council has completed the section of footway north of the distributor road connecting to the railway station. It is expected that the remaining section of the route to will be completed by Persimmon this autumn. Once this section is complete the cycleway / footpath link will be fully lit.
Your comments are invited…..
We would welcome your comments on the revised proposals before reporting to the relevant Council Committee for consideration. Comments can be made in writing or submitted by email by Friday 17th October 2008 to:
Falkirk Council
Development Services
Abbotsford House
Davids Loan
Falkirk FK2 7YZ
louise.blance@falkirk.gov.uk
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