Agenda item

Report attached.

Members considered a report of Councillor Kimberley Whitehead, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Arts, seeking approval to implement a scheme for new a community woodland at Bullough Park, creating a significant resource for people to enjoy and harnessing external resources for the benefit of the local area.   This was also an opportunity to demonstrate positive climate action.

Councillor Whitehead provided a brief introduction to the report and highlighted the benefits of the £250k scheme, including the reduction in anti-social behaviour and off-road motorbike nuisance and future biodiversity plans.   She thanked PCSO Mat Gill for his attention tothis particular site and his work across the wider Spring Hill ward.

The Leader thanked Anne Hourican, Senior Environmental Initiatives Officer, for her work on this project and also expressed his gratitude to PCSO Gil.  Councillor Khan noted that other wards had benefited from a similar approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and he hoped that this type of scheme could be rolled out further across the Borough.

Approval of the report was not considered to be a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

This was a significant, multi-benefit enhancement project at Bullough Park, Accrington, including new entrances and boundary treatments, woodland planting, wildflower meadow and wetland habitat creation and new surfaced footpaths to extend the ‘all-ability’ access network.  It was on the middle plateau of Bullough Park, which was currently in a poor, waterlogged condition, and subject to repeated anti-social behaviour from motorbike trespass.

This was the largest current project in the TreeACTION community woodland programme, which was part of the climate action work of the Council, delivered in tandem with the Prospects Foundation.  TreeACTION was all about enhancing the local area, enabling people to get involved in tangible climate action, with many benefits for nature, carbon capture and enhancing spaces for public enjoyment.

The 1^st phase, starting in Spring 2025, was to create new entrances and boundary treatments to protect the site from persistent motorbike trespass.  This was an essential pre-requisite to deter long-standing public nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

The project was supported by joint working with Lancashire Constabulary, the Prospects Foundation and Proffitts C.I.C. community design team, residents groups and extensive local engagement activity.

Support for the 1^st phase entrance improvements included Police staff involvement, together with funding through the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC).  Details of the purpose and funding for each of the three phases were included within Appendix 1 to the report.  The Neighbourhood Policing Team would also follow up with increased patrols to help resolve public nuisance from unauthorised motorbike trespass.

Potential investment through grant bids

The overall project value was some £150K for Phases 1 and 2 in the short term, plus up to £100k for further enhancements in the medium term (Appendix 1 to the report refers).  A number of grant bids were being made and phases of improvements would be progressed subject to availability of funding.

A key funding bid was to the Forestry Commission (FC), English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).  A very well designed woodland creation proposal had been welcomed by FC support officers and was expected to bring investment as shown in Appendix 1 to the report.

All grant incomes would be ring-fenced and reserved for the improvements and ongoing maintenance of the scheme to ensure its success.

Potential local involvement

An improved site, with local people actively involved, would help to reduce problems that would otherwise arise when land was unused and uncared for, as most of this land was currently.

Local involvement from the outset would also bring the potential for effective community management arrangements to complement basic maintenance operations.

The scheme had been very strongly welcomed by local people.

• 93% of respondents had said that they liked the improvements suggested.
• 93% of respondents had also told the Council that they, and their families, would be more likely to visit Bullough Park in the future if the changes were made because they felt it would be more attractive, there would be more colour and wildlife, and because the park would be safer and have improved access.

Alternative Options considered and Reasons for Rejection

One option was to do nothing.  This would miss out on potential for external support to provide an enhanced recreation, community and environmental asset.  There would be public disappointment as the proposal had received extensive local support.  Anti-social behaviour would continue and staff time (HBC and Police) would be wasted in handling complaints.

A second option was to do a reduced scheme limited to the funding that was available.  The scheme had been designed to enable phased implementation with priority elements being done in Phase 1 and Phase 2.  This allowed the possibility of some elements being progressed later as further funding was secured.

Resolved                                    -    That Cabinet agrees:-

(1)    To support the implementation of the woodland and access improvements to Bullough Park, Accrington, proposed in Section 3 of the report as part of the Bullough Park community woodland, “the scheme”, subject to funding being available.

(2)    To delegate authority to the Head of Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to apply for grants in respect of the scheme, as shown in Paragraph 3.6 and Appendix 1 of the report, and to implement the scheme in phases subject to the availability of funding.

(3)    To delegate authority to the Head of Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Executive Director (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Portfolio Holder, to enter into grant agreements in respect of the scheme.

(4)    To agree Hyndburn Borough Council budget provision of £9,000 to strengthen the measures to be carried out in Phase 1 of the scheme.

(5)    To agree that all grant income received in connection with the scheme is ring-fenced and accrued for the creation and ongoing maintenance of the Bullough Park community woodland scheme.

(6)    To support joint working with external organisations to encourage local involvement with the woodland creation and other enhancements at Bullough Park, subject to necessary insurances being in place and appropriate risk assessments being carried out.