Heatherside Youth Facility Consultation

Residents help shape new youth and community space

The residents and young people of Heatherside are helping to shape a new Village Green community space for their area that includes a skatepark, outdoor gym area and brand new children's playground.

The new family-focused facilities will be developed on Heatherside Recreation Ground, subject to planning permission being obtained. An artist's impression of the proposed new space is shown above.

The Safer Surrey Heath Partnership carried out an extensive consultation with the Heatherside community over the summer of 2009, proposing a variety of options for a new youth and community space. The views of residents influenced the Partnership's final decision to proceed with the 'Village Green with skatepark' option. The other options were for a community-run building, Village Green space with BMX track, a Village Green alone, and no new facility.

Download the November 2009 Heatherside Village Green Update newsletter here. Opens in a new window

Creating our new space

More than 80 residents of all ages gathered at Heather Ridge Infant School on 21 October 2009 to hear about the proposed new community space - and to get involved in its design. During workshops residents discussed?: 1) How do we see this space working?; 2) How can we improve this space; 3) How can we make this succeed?

Residents came up with the following ideas and suggestions:

Question 1 - How do we see this space working?

• Not 'in your face'
• Not 'taking over' the existing space
• Create a visual impact
• Community responsibility is essential thus young people/ the community should be heavily involved in the design process
• A large skatepark designed to reduce accidents including half pipes, steps, grind poles and grind boxes
• Covered seating area near the skatepark that blends in with the natural environment
• Safety awareness signs to educate users of the risks
• More bins to reduce the build-up of litter
• Ensure easy movement between different sections (skatepark, play area, Village Green)

Question 2 - How can we improve the space?

• Schools/ youth clubs to be involved
• Make the skate park bigger
• Put shelters in place
• More litter bins
• Use a graffiti design on designated areas of the skatepark, e.g. the base of the half pipe
• Chain link fencing could be used to separate the skatepark from other areas.
• BBQ areas
• Timer controlled lighting

Question 3 - How can we make this succeed?

• The community should be given ownership of the area
• Community involvement in the designing/spacing of the area is essential
• Get schools/youth clubs involved
• Any incidents should be reported to the council/police immediately
• Think about the materials for the park. Specific materials will help to reduce the noise made by the skaters, i.e. concrete, possibly sunken?
• Development of the Heatherside Community Committee, involving residents of all ages in the monitoring the area

Partnership officers from the borough council, county council, neighbourhood police and youth development service, are continuing to work with the community as the blueprints for the new space evolve. Residents, including young people, who would like to get involved in this project should contact Surrey Heath Borough Council Green Spaces Manager, Leigh Thornton, by email on leisure.services@surreyheath.gov.uk, or telephone 01276 707100.

We are on Facebook Opens in a new window. If you are a Facebook member, please visit us by searching on 'Heatherside Decides' and join in the discussion.

Consultation survey results

For a breakdown of our earlier survey findings, click here.

Heatherside consultation Phase 1: options and survey July 2009