Roundabout and park update

The Hawkenbury Village Association committee and local residents met with Kasia Olszewska, the Parks Technical officer from the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on Friday, 7 August, to discuss the roundabout and other matters.

Children’s Roundabout
The roundabout was installed in the children’s play area during the refurbishment last year. Due to it’s location and lack of drainage, the bottom half fills with rain water, which causes the bearings to seize. This stops the roundabout working. It has been repaired in the past, but the repairs don’t solve the problem.

The contractor seems unwilling to replace it and the council don’t believe they have a claim to pursue. It has been discussed that the council will replace the roundabout with a raised model, that won’t be affected by rain water. Not time scales were given for this work to take place.

Additional Funds
There may be approximately £15,000 in the council coffers, from Section 106 funds, to do additional works at the park. It was suggested that this money be earmarked for adult exercise equipment. In the last round of funding, £45,000 was spent on the children’s play area. In the resident’s survey in 2013/14, adult exercise equipment was the 2nd choice for spending any monies. If this money is allocated to the Recreation Ground, then a decision can be made on where to place the exercise equipment. A suggestion was put forward to place it at the back of the tennis courts, so that adults could use the equipment and still keep an eye on the play area. It would also be accessible from the running track. Kasia mentioned they may also look at what they could do to improve the existing obstacle course in the children’s play area. The current is quite old and adding different equipment may make it more interested and also appeal to an older child.

Notice Boards

The HVA committee and the council have agreed on the new notice boards and these will be printed and erected within the next few weeks. They are going to be within an oak frame on upright stands. Three are being printed and will be erected at the Dorset Road entrance, the car park entrance and the Forest Road / Hawkenbury road entrance.

Pavilion
The grass (or lack thereof) around the Pavilion was discussed. The area has been fenced off and seeded by the contractor, but the grass seed has not germinated everywhere and the area is full of weeds. The contractor has been contacted to return and re-seed the area.

Memorial Benches
The lack of maintenance on the memorial benches and the picnic tables was discussed. Kasia said she would look into what could be done to improve the benches and get them oiled and cleaned.