South Gloucestershire Council is developing plans to improve Kingwood Park and local people are being asked to provide their input to help shape the proposals.
After securing £120,000 development funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), the council is working with the Friends of Kingswood Park and the local community on plans to restore and enhance the park.
The project aims to renovate the park so that it forms the green ‘heart’ of Kingswood where people go to enjoy high quality facilities, outdoor events, and meet other people in a safe, welcoming setting. Under the plans, the park’s accessibility will be improved, there will be landscape and biodiversity enhancements, and the play area and the park’s learning experience are also earmarked for improvements. The council hopes to apply for up to £2.5 million of funding in total to restore and improve the park in 2023.
The restoration of Kingswood Park forms part of the council’s ambitious £25 million regeneration vision for the Town Centre, which also includes the purchase of Kings Chase Shopping Centre and the restoration of the Whitfield Tabernacle as part of the wider Kingswood Masterplan. The recently created Town Council will be an integral link to the success of this wider vision.
Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member with responsibility for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are working with the Kingswood community to make Kingswood Park a place that everyone in the area can be proud of.
“We recently approved a masterplan for Kingswood, backed by a £25 million investment package secured by the council with support from the local MP, and part of this shared future vision aims to improve local parks and green spaces and their connections.
“These proposals have been developed by the council and Friends of Kingswood Park in consultation with park users. We want more people from the area to help shape our plans to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the local community, so please let us know your views by taking part in our questionnaire which should only take a few minutes to complete.”
Jim Whittaker, secretary of the Friends of Kingswood Park, said: “This survey features a lot of great new additions to the park that have been the subject of discussions we’ve had with South Gloucestershire Council over the last few years. We are delighted with how it’s all progressing. The refreshment facility is one particular feature which we are really hopeful to see happen.”
The main aims of the Kingswood Park project are to:
– improve park facilities for all, making it a central focus for the community and contribute to the economic regeneration of Kingswood High Street
– improve access for people with mobility difficulties
– improve the park landscape and biodiversity
– encourage greater use of the park through events and activities
– encourage voluntary groups and schools to make more use of the park
– provide new play facilities
– restore paths, walls, masonry, and other features
– share the heritage of the park and research its history
– explore the option to refurbish or provide new toilet facilities
– investigate opportunities for a refreshment facility.
Have your say by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/kingswood-park-survey. By completing the questionnaire you could also win one of five £25 shopping vouchers (details at the end of the survey).
Closing date for submission of the questionnaire is 31 August 2022.
