Minutes

SNAPE WITH THORP PARISH COUNCIL

SNAPE PLAYING FIELD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes of a meeting held on 20 January 2022 in the Snape Institute

1. Present: Cllr John Duck (Chairman); Cllr Richard Poole, John Knopp, David Milner, David Smith, Simon Old and Kath Greaves

2. Welcome and confirmation of Chairman: Cllr Duck welcomed all to the meeting and provided background to the creation of the Committee.  Under the Terms of Reference for the Group he would be the Chair of the Committee.

3. Declarations of Interests: None

4. Terms of Reference: The terms of reference as agreed by the Parish Council at its meeting on 13 January, copies of which had been circulated with the agenda, were received and noted.

5. Report on the response to the Parish Council’s survey: The report on the outcome of the survey, copies of which had been circulated with the agenda, was noted.  Each member of the Committee was invited in turn to comment on the survey, proposal and thoughts on what the development of the playing field area to the south of the playing field could look like. 

The following comments were noted:  criticism of the PC’s survey which was felt to be negative, a very small proportion of the community had responded and many did not want a development, the field is a playing field and the PC would be planning to install teens and older play/exercise equipment, so space (to be agreed by the PC) would need to be made within the undeveloped area at the top of the field, the area was a “no dog area” and would remain so, reference was made to the Snape Climate and Conservation Group’s wish to see more trees and wild flowers planted, that the area under consideration could be very wet but was less so at present, monies were spent on other aspects of community life so why not for this area and if external funds could be found this was a positive, that the area should not be a forest but limited planting of trees and possible meadow with the possibility of sponsorship of trees could be explored, working on a scheme in stages was a possible approach. 

6. Plans: Committee members were asked to put forward their ideas for a development.  The following were raised:

1. 1. Trees – were a good idea and would assist with drainage; 30 – 50 trees was mooted but not to create a forest; some trees might not survive from the first planting so a phased approach might be appropriate
   2. Kids area – linking with school for their forest school lessons; willow tunnels, storytelling circle, it was noted that the school already had two garden areas on its premises and it was unclear whether these were used for forest school lessons and, therefore, the amount of time the school children would be using the area
   3. People might sponsor trees and other aspects
   4. Wild flower planting
   5. Bug hotels
   6. Bird hides
   7. Paths and seating
   8. If and when houses were built on the Price’s Pavings site there would be development funds that would be available to the Parish Council and it may be used to develop the play park, amongst other projects, so there was the possibility of waiting to see what funds might be available for this development in due course
   1. Due to the nature of the use of the northern side of the field the park was a “no dog area” and would have to remain as such
   10. David Milner had already developed a plan and it could be appropriate to review this initially.

7. Funding: Committee members were invited to put forward ideas for funding of any plans; the following were noted:
   1. The Woodland Trust had trees available – the next planting would be in autumn
   2. Trees could be purchased - £8 to £10 was quoted; although it was noted that sizeable trees could be several hundred pounds
   3. Sponsorship
   4. Low cost of maintenance with coppiced trees via self-management
   5. Other funding sources could be explored
   6. Experience of undertaking a meadow project elsewhere was discussed and the extent of time and effort needed

As it was unclear of the exact usage by the School it was RESOLVED that the Clerk should obtain a clear and honest view of the use which the School would make of any developed area.

8. Future meetings: It was RESOLVED to hold a site visit on Wednesday 26 January at 2pm to view the area and the possible extent of the development with a view to preparing plans to bring back to this Committee and then for discussion by the Parish Council.