Agenda item

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing suggestions for how the legacy money left by Frank Bramwell for Reddish Vale Country Park could be spent.  The Countryside Manager explained that a public consultation was carried out in April and May 2011 to find out how the public would like the funding to be allocated.  The results revealed that consultees preferred the money to be spent on the following projects:-

1.    Fund a new Visitors Centre or improvements to the existing building

2.    A Frank Bramwell Memorial Trail

3.    Creation of Wetland Project / Sunnyside Wood Restoration Project

4.    Visitor Centre Triangle Improvement  / Reservoir Wildlife Habitat Improvements

5.    Reddish Vale’s Signage and Publicity

6.    Sunnyside Pond Dipping Platform

The legacy money would not be enough to fund a new Visitor’s Centre and there was not currently any other external funding available for this. Members agreed that a proportion of the legacy could be used to fund improvements to refurbish the inside of the Visitor Centre and the Friends of the Vale would contribute some of their funding towards this. Representatives of the Service Director (Place Management) presented the report summarising the projects. Members discussed the projects and approved the following funding subject to detailed quotes being received.

·         Improvements to the Visitor’s Centre – upto £10,000

·         Create a “Frank Bramwell memorial trail” – upto £50,000

·         Reddish Vale Branding - Signage and Interpretation boards – upto £15,000

The remaining money would be split between the following smaller projects:

·         New wetland project

·         Sunnyside Wood

·         Reddish Vale Road/ Mill Lane / Visitor Centre triangle

·         Sunnyside Pond and dipping platform

·         Reservoir wildlife improvements

The following issues were raised / comments made:-

·         Would the proposed projects go out to tender to contractors?

·         Clarification was sought as to why and how much money the ‘Friends of the Vale’ had requested to improve the Visitor’s Centre.

·         A Councillor commented that he wished for certain areas in the vicinity of Reddish Vale Park to be furnished with park benches.

·         Asbestos in part of Reddish Vale Country Park and the associated long term risks.

·         Further detailed costings were requested for all the proposed projects in Reddish Vale Country Park.

·         A request for a permanent memorial plaque to honour Frank Bramwell’s commitment to supporting his local park be mounted.  Councillors stressed the importance that Frank Bramwell received some form of recognition and for future generations be reminded of Frank Bramwell’s legacy.  Furthermore, Councillors discussed potential locations in Reddish Vale Country Park where a plaque could be mounted.

·         The cost of promoting Reddish Vale Country Park – Provision of signage and interpretation boards were considered expensive. These costs would be reported back at the next meeting.

·         A Councillor proposed that the legacy money should be spent on long term projects, which were more substantial than short term schemes such as leaflets. 

·         That the ‘Frank Bramwell Trail’ should be accessible for disabled people.

·         The order of priority for the proposed projects to be carried out and the timeframe for investigating the cost for each project.

·         Partnership working with Arts For Recovery (ARC) in creating signage and interpretation boards at Reddish Vale Country Park. 

·         The potential dates for launching and officially opening the projects to members of the public.

·         A member suggested that the next ‘Folk Day’ should be a separate event from any other events at Reddish Vale Country Park.

The Chair thanked Roy Bramwell, ‘The Friends of the Vale’ and represensatives of ‘The Tame Valley Defence Group’ for their attendance.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Joint Ward Committee supports the proposals recommended by the Service Director (Place Management), and that the Heatons & Reddish and Central Stockport Area Committees be requested to consider the comments made by the Joint Ward Committee and approve the recommendations.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Management) be requested to provide:-

(i) detailed costings of the projects including the refurbishment of the Visitor’s Centre and Reddish Vale Branding for the next meeting.

(ii) further information regarding the asbestos risk at Reddish Vale Country Park.

(iii) circulate the date of the next ‘Folk Day’ at Reddish Vale Country Park and details when the Olympic Flame of the Torch Relay would be in Stockport.

(3) That the Friends of the Vale be requested to submit a detailed list of how money invested would be spent to improve the Visitor’s Centre to the Chair of the Joint Ward Committee and the Service Director (Place Management).