Schedule of LAND ASSETS May 2020
Bradpole Parish Council owns a number of Open Spaces and these are described below.
PLEASE FOLLOW COVID-19 CAUTION GUIDELINES WHEN USING PUBLIC OPEN SPACES.
Any Group wishing to use the Parish Recreation areas should contact the Parish Clerk for COVID-19 conditions and availability.
Other Green Spaces such as that bordering the River Asker through “Happy Island” are in private ownership.
The Parish Plan highlights the importance of safeguarding the existing Open Spaces and putting them to better use for the benefit of the Community whilst taking into account the concerns of the immediate neighbours.
In 2016, with the help of a grant, a gazebo was purchased for use on our Green spaces at Parish Council Community events.
In early 2016, and as part of the Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan, Bradpole councillors produced a report on the environmental & heritage assets within Bradpole Civil Parish.
Follow this link to read the report:
Bradpole Parish Council Environment & Heritage Report – 2016
Whilst the Parish Council has funds available, received from Council Taxes, for both the basic management of our Green Spaces and the replacement of Play equipment these funds are limited.
The formation of Community groups is supported and those properly constituted groups can access funding sources that are not normally available to councils to enhance and improve community facilities.
Gore Cross Recreation Area
Gore Cross Recreation Area is a 2 acre (0.79h.a.) relatively level field which requires regular maintenance.
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- Additional picnic tables/benches were installed following suggestions put forward by several local residents in the Parish Plan.
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- Goal posts have been installed to facilitate up to 9-a-side matches, particularly for our younger residents, and have been used by local under-11 mixed teams.
- Where diseased trees are felled these are replaced on a minimum one for one basis.
- The grass is mown very frequently to keep the Green in good order.
- A “Shed on the Green” was established in 2019 using S106 Grant monies relating to earlier property development in the civil parish.
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Residents said in Parish Plan consultations that the Parish owned Green Spaces should be “safeguarded”.
Bradpole Parish Councillors executed a Deed of Dedication with “Fields in Trust” http://www.fieldsintrust.org/ in November 2016 to protect “Gore Cross Green” in perpetuity for the benefit of residents. This Deed has now be registered at HM Land Registry thus completing the protection process.
Find the Protected Gore Cross Green at this link to Fields in Trust
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This Green Space is widely used by members of the Bradpole community and occasionally community events are held. This highlights the need to keep the land clean for all who use it.
The Parish Council wishes to enable improvement and a greater and varied use of existing community open spaces.
The “Get Bradpole Buzzing Group”, formed in 2019, is brightening up some of Bradpole’s green spaces by planting native wildflowers. See our community groups page for contact details.
Bradpole Parish Council has a set of rules & regulations for the use of the Green for the benefit of all users see:-
Gore Cross Recreation Area rules 2020
Any persons or organised groups wishing to use this field for formal community/sports events etc. should contact the Bradpole Parish Clerk at:
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL PERSONS USING THE FIELD DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK
Pageants Field and Play Area
COVID-19 Please follow the COVID-CAUTION GUIDELINESwhen using the Play Area
BPC risk-assessment-Pageants Play Area January 2021
Pageants Close recreation field and play area is a smaller green space (0.33h.a.) on sloping land. It includes a Children’s play area. A replacement Play Tower was installed in October 2015
The play area fencing was replaced with safety compliant fencing in September 2014.
There is a large badgers sett on the SW perimeter. Badgers are a protected species their habitat cannot be disturbed.
Check out this RSPCA site for more information:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/inthewild/badgers/law
CAUTION take care on the field surface as the badgers can cause it to become uneven in places.
The playground area is subject to an annual health and safety check by an independent assessor. The most recent Annual Safety Inspection Report is available here:
2020 Pageants Close Play Area Inspection Report
NOTE that the 2020 Report incorporates additional guidelines for all users relating to COVID-19
Bradpole Parish Council has adopted a basic set of rules for the use of the Field & Play Area for the benefit of all users see:- Pageant’s Field Rules
COVID-19: Please check with the Parish Clerk for the latest position.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL PERSONS USING THE FIELD DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK
PROTECTING OUR GREEN SPACES
Parish councillors review options for this field from time to time to consider whether it continues to meet the wishes of the community.
Bradpole Councillors decided, in late 2017, to apply for the same protection with “Fields In Trust” that was achieved at Gore Cross Green in that year. See this field at:
http://www.fieldsintrust.org/FieldSite/Pageants-Field
This process has now been completed and the Deed of Dedication was registered at the Land Registry in May 2018 under title DT420393.
In May 2020 Pageants Field was designated under the adopted Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan as a Green Space.
For more details please contact the Parish Clerk: bradpole@dorset-aptc.gov.uk
Railway Gardens, Caley Way
A pleasant small amenity area next to an old railway crossing. You will find there seating and a Parish Council Notice Board.
The Parish Council undertook a review of the planting on this site during the summer of 2016. Here is a summary of the report which was adopted by the Parish Council on 4 Aug 2016:
Railway Gardens Review 2016 (Summary)
Adjacent to “Railway Gardens” are the Bradpole Parish Council allotments, for more about these go to the: Bradpole P.C. Allotments page.
The Gore
A pleasant and green walkway and wildlife corridor owned by the Parish Council which passes through a built up area in the village.
During the late Autumn of 2015 the hedge along the footpath was laid, an old technique of hedge management. This will enable future control to be both easier and less costly.
Unfortunately there has been some instances of vandalism resulting in criminal damage to Council owned trees and shrubs in The Gore. These have been, and will continue to be, reported to the appropriate authorities.
For the benefit of all please keep this and all of our public spaces clean and tidy.
Townsend Way
The Parish Council owns a strip of land on the north side of Townsend Way which is being managed by volunteers from the “Getting Bradpole Buzzing” group.
This provides a Green border opposite the protected Gore Cross Green.
In 2014 Japanese Knotweed was found to be growing on part of this plot and an eradication programme was put in place.
Japanese Knotweed (JKW) – Townsend Way 2014 Programme of Eradication
The progress of this programme is monitored regularly
Our consultant, Dr. Anabel King, Senior Ecologist, Natural Environment Team, Dorset County Council Reported in Sept 2018:
“I visited the Japanese Knotweed site at Bradpole yesterday morning (16/09) to see how it has responded to another year of treatment. Although it is still there I can also see that the treatment is still having an effect as growth is reduced when compared to last year and overall there seemed to be fewer plants around. I also thought the new fencing was a very good idea given the length of time which treatment of this plant often takes.”
“In terms of further treatment I think I’d just advise continuing the current spraying programme.”
“JKW is a plant which requires long term treatment to fully eradicate it. The Bradpole patch is now so much smaller than when I first saw it and I’m very hopeful that it will be possible to get rid of it completely in the next few years. It is frustrating not to be able to dig it up but, as we have discussed, this would involve excavating a large volume of earth and the arisings would then have to be treated as hazardous waste. Also, any remaining rhizome would then start growing more vigorously in response to the disturbance.”
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Dog Fouling Problems
The problem of dog fouling which was highlighted as a major concern in the Parish Plan unfortunately continues. However the situation is improving as owners understand the need to be responsible for their pets. The Parish Council hopes to see this trend continue for the benefit of all, not least of all for the children who frequent our green spaces.
The majority of dog owners are responsible people and clear up any mess, we are grateful to them for the care they take.
There remains a minority of inconsiderate dog owners who do not act responsibly.
IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE NOT TO CLEAR UP AFTER YOUR DOG.
The Dorset Council website has a page for reporting dog fouling and there is a Dog Warden who may follow-up these reports.
Owners can also be prosecuted in the magistrates court where a fine of up to £1,000 plus costs can be imposed.
