A masterplan showing proposed improvements to this park, based on the outcomes of a long period of public consultation, was approved by Witham Local Committee on 26th February 2008 to form the basis of Braintree District Council's search for funding to upgrade Witham's town park.

Click on the image to the right of this text to open the current version of the Masterplan.

Programme of Improvements

Current progress in upgrading the park is:-

Completed March 2009 - Emergency repairs to the northern boundary wall (`haha`)

Autumn 2009 - Several bulb planting sessions took place; volunteers included students from years 7 and 8 of Maltings Academy; fine displays of daffodils were the result of all the hard work

By end March 2011 - A new metal shelter will be built.  This can also be used for performance arts events and as an outdoor classroom.

By end March 2011 - New provision for play

By end March 2011 - New toilet and store near the King's Close entrance (see masterplan)

Photographs of the park: - Drinking Fountain,  Main Entrance Maldon Road, Mature Trees, Play Area, Proposed Mini Woodland, Railings on 'ha ha', Scout Hut base, Vacant Plot Maldon Road, View into Cricket Ground

*** Witham Town Park Project NEWSLETTER August 2009 ***

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING THE MASTERPLAN:

The development of the masterplan was based on much public consultation so involving the local community in the project with the aim of developing new uses and, new ’audiences’ for the park.
 

Workshops and Consultation Events:
Starting with a stall at the Carnival on 14th July 2007 and a Public Meeting on 25th September 2007, a series of consultation events were scheduled for September to November in addition to a series of topic based workshops, at various locations, to attract a variety of audiences.

Consultees were asked asked three basic questions:
- What is Good? (What do you like about the Park?)
- What is Bad? (What are the problems?)
- What about the Future? (What improvements and new uses would you like to see?)

List of events held to develop the masterplan included: -
14/07/07          Carnival - general public and park users
22/09/07          Children’s World Fun Day at Witham Park – general public and park users
25/09/07           Public Meeting - stakeholders / general public
06/10/07          Park View – elderly people/ people with disabilities/ care staff / park neighbours
13/10/07          Grove Centre – general public / variety of educational attainment
15/10/07          Health Centre – people in poor health / people with disabilities
15/10/07          Job Centre Plus – people with a variety of educational attainment / unemployed
                          people
16/10/07          South View School – children with special needs
17/10/07          Small Talk – parents of young children
18/10/07          Youth Group – young people 12 to 17
19/10/07          Friday Fellowship – elderly people/ people with disabilities
01/11/07          Howbridge Juniors – children aged 10 and 11
01/11/07          Culture & Heritage Workshop
03/11/07          Play Workshop
05/11/07          Bramston Sixth Form – young people aged 17
06/11/07          Youth (1) Workshop
                         (The Youth Workshops were led by Marianne Brooker from YARN)
08/11/07          Bramston Sixth Form – young people aged 18
08/11/07          New Uses Workshop
13/11/07          Youth (2) Workshop
19/11/07          Access Workshop
27/11/07          Adult Education College – young people aged 18-24 and adult learners
28/11/07          Rickstones School – young people aged 13
05/12/07          Parkside Youth Centre – young people aged 11 to 16 / park neighbours
08/01/08          Witham & Countryside Society – members attending W&CS meeting
09/01/08          Rickstones School – young people aged 13
10/01/08          Tabor Centre – adults with physical disabilities
16/01/08          Rickstones School – young people aged 13
17/01/08          Witham Town Centre Strategy Group – businesses / employers
23/01/08          Rickstones School Play Workshop 1
23/01/08          Witham Nursery – people with young children
28/01/08          Witham Town Council
30/01/08          Rickstones School Play Workshop 2

Continuing consultation events have included holding stalls at Witham Carnival on 12th July 2008, 11th July 2009 and 10th July 2010

User Surveys:
As part of the work on the PPG (Planning Policy Guidance) 17 Open Space Audit a number of User Surveys were undertaken in the Park in 2006.  A further period of on site User Surveys took place in 2007.

STAKEHOLDER LIST
A stakeholder list has been developed and new contacts been made.  Anyone who wishes to be kept informed about the project can ask to be included on the "Stakeholder List" (see details below) to receive information as the project develops.

For more information and to get involved please contact: 

Jenny Claydon, Project Manager & Landscape Architect, Development Services, Braintree District Council, Causeway House, Braintree, CM9 7HB

tel. 01376 551414 x 2565
fax. 01376 557787

or email: jencl@braintree.gov.uk

Updated 09/11/2010