Dinton Pastures vision to get guiding light
Three plans to upgrade a much-loved country park in the Wokingham Borough have been whittled down to just one popular option by the public – with the borough council’s executive due to pledge its support for it on Thursday March 27.
More than 66 per cent of people who responded to the Dinton Pastures vision survey last year favoured the option to have a new centre at the heart of the site in Hurst, located where the existing café and office buildings are.
Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive is set to offer its support for the option preferred by the public later this month. It is also due to give the countryside service the go-ahead to seek commercial partners to support the project financially and practically in the future so that the vision can become a reality.
The public was asked how it wanted the park to develop over the next 25 years during a summer-long consultation. Comments ranged from protecting habitats, upgrading walkways and paths and protecting the natural environment, and there were many about upgrading the existing buildings.
As a result of the first consultation, it was considered crucial to concentrate on getting the buildings on the site improved. Therefore a second consultation started in December on three basic options to improve the facilities. More than 900 people, including residents, park-users, watersport enthusiasts, golfers and anglers gave their opinion on three broad options for the park’s buildings.
Comments on upgrading other features at the park such as better footpaths, will be used to shape detailed improvement plans to the park at a later date.
The three potential visions that were looked into were:
· Option one – creating a golf clubhouse and watersports facilities in a two-storey visitor centre providing a view of the lake. This option would have seen boating equipment stored in the centre and with extra outdoor boat storage available and a new jetty and slipway. This was favoured by 32 per cent of respondents.
· Option two - creating a new centre opposite the bird feeding and picnic area next to Black Swan Lake. This was favoured by two per cent of people.
· Option three – retaining the exiting building for the new golf clubhouse and linking it to a visitor centre with an outdoor café area and courtyard area. Creating a separate building for watersports off Sandford Lane and building a new jetty, slipway and beach area. This option was favoured by 66 per cent of respondents.
More than 66 per cent of people who responded to the Dinton Pastures vision survey last year favoured the option to have a new centre at the heart of the site in Hurst, located where the existing café and office buildings are.
Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive is set to offer its support for the option preferred by the public later this month. It is also due to give the countryside service the go-ahead to seek commercial partners to support the project financially and practically in the future so that the vision can become a reality.
The public was asked how it wanted the park to develop over the next 25 years during a summer-long consultation. Comments ranged from protecting habitats, upgrading walkways and paths and protecting the natural environment, and there were many about upgrading the existing buildings.
As a result of the first consultation, it was considered crucial to concentrate on getting the buildings on the site improved. Therefore a second consultation started in December on three basic options to improve the facilities. More than 900 people, including residents, park-users, watersport enthusiasts, golfers and anglers gave their opinion on three broad options for the park’s buildings.
Comments on upgrading other features at the park such as better footpaths, will be used to shape detailed improvement plans to the park at a later date.
The three potential visions that were looked into were:
· Option one – creating a golf clubhouse and watersports facilities in a two-storey visitor centre providing a view of the lake. This option would have seen boating equipment stored in the centre and with extra outdoor boat storage available and a new jetty and slipway. This was favoured by 32 per cent of respondents.
· Option two - creating a new centre opposite the bird feeding and picnic area next to Black Swan Lake. This was favoured by two per cent of people.
· Option three – retaining the exiting building for the new golf clubhouse and linking it to a visitor centre with an outdoor café area and courtyard area. Creating a separate building for watersports off Sandford Lane and building a new jetty, slipway and beach area. This option was favoured by 66 per cent of respondents.
Wokingham Borough Council
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