Agenda and minutes

Councillor Alan Kauffman attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor. 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·        Approximately 1,500 people used Deane Park car park, including people attending the nearby Community Centre.

·        The car park was also used by parents visiting Deansfield School and Fieldend Infant School.

·        The number of people visiting Deane Park and Deane Park Car Park would rise due to the introduction of the Queenswalk parking management scheme, so the flooding problem should be solved as soon as possible.

·        The flooding covered three quarters of the car park, which meant a large proportion of it was unusable.

·        The flooding extended across Deane Park, discouraging young people from using the park. Residents’ were concerned that these young people might end up roaming the streets, as they were unable to use the park.

·        Young people who had wanted to play football in the park were unable to do to due to excess flooding.

·        The amount of water was harming the trees in the park.

·        In the past, ditches had been dug around the park to allow the water to drain into them, however due to the risk of people falling into these this system was ended.

Councillor Sandra Jenkins listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  Officers advised that the current draining system required a license with Thames Water. This license only allowed for a certain amount of water to be drained at a certain rate. The terms of this license could be reconsidered with Thames Water. 

DECISION

That a feasibility study was undertaken by the Improvement Projects team to determine the cost of implementing a drainage system in Deane Park Car Park.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

·        During heavy rain large puddles formed in the car park

·        Improvement Projects team had the necessary knowledge and experience to conduct a feasibility study on behalf of Green Spaces.

·        Initial contact with Thames Water had been made about the feasibility of allowing the car park to be drained into Thames Water pipes. This has received a favourable response.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

To not undertake the feasibility study.

Councillor Mike Bull attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor. 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·        Recently, the sheds on the allotment site were vandalised and expensive equipment being stolen.  Police concluded that the vandals accessed the site by jumping over the 25metre stretch of fencing shared by the allotment site and the cemetery.

·        Tree branches could be cut back to discourage people from using them as leverage when climbing over the fence.

·        Bushes and trees could be planted in the area in front of the fencing.

Councillor Sandra Jenkins listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  Officers advised that thorny bushes and brambles could be planted in the area in front on the fencing to dissuade vandals from jumping over the fence.  Officers advised that the bushes could be planted now, but berry bushes and brambles would need to be planted in the Autumn to grow successfully.

DECISION

That thorny bushes and brambles would be planted in front of the fencing shared by the allotment site and West Drayton Cemetery.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

1. Money for allotment improvements was prioritised across all 35 Council owned allotment sites and allocated in consultation with the Hillingdon Allotment and Horticultural Federation.  On this basis, West Drayton Cemetery Allotment was unlikely to receive funds for improvement works as it has already benefited from substantial capital investment.

2. The existing infrastructure, including fencing, at West Drayton Cemetery Allotment is generally good.  Two Metre high palisade fencing has already been erected along the Harmondsworth Road boundary and the Rowlheys Place boundary.  The chainlink fencing between the allotment garden and West Drayton Burial Ground is in generally good condition. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

Erect approximately 100 metres of 2 Metre high palisade fencing between the allotment garden and the burial ground.