The Goring-on-Thames Open Spaces Strategy report has been drafted.
Thirlwall Associates Goring-on-Thames Open Space Strategy Report December 2022
This document is put forward by Thirlwall Associates (Landscape Architects) based on their independent views following review of Goring’s open spaces usage and potential, as well as extensive consultation with residents as well as sports clubs.
Following the publication of this report and once feedback has been received, the Open Spaces Working Group intend to propose to Council that several separate projects should be taken forward.
It is intended that these would be progressed concurrently if possible, but as separate workstreams:
- Replace / refurbish playground equipment at Bourdillon and Gardiner
- Consider improvements suggested within the report on Rectory Garden and Ferry Lane
- A major project on Gardiner and Sheepcot Recreation grounds – these need to run together as decisions on one are likely to impact the other
It is hoped that specific proposals can be developed for discussion at an Extra Council Meeting in February 2023.
The redacted comments received from the community on the Thirlwall report are organised by location / topic and can be found in the following documents:
- GardinerComments
- General Comments
- RectoryGarden
- SheepcotComments
- SportsClubsComments
- BathingSwimmingComments
- BourdillonComments
- FerryLaneComments
- FundingComments
The public spaces review is being completed in conjunction with the expert advice and recommendations of a Landscape Architect, to review all 5 of the public space in Goring as a whole.
This approach is being taken to mitigate some of the issues on previous projects where an individual location for an individual project was looked at and a few residents would raise concerns and the project would then be passed over. This new approach of looking at the village as a whole is to help show concerned residents that no individual location is being singled out, and that there is a long term plan for the whole village.
There will be a series of consultations prior to one final large consultation where the village will be asked to comment on the final recommendations and give a priority list for the projects.
The first consultation period was the 2nd – 22nd August 2021, Summer of Play. Data collected during the events and feedback received immediately after from the participants is being fed into the plans.
The second consultation period was during February 2022 (consultation closed 18th February 2022). A Public Spaces survey was available to all residents to complete, again to be analysed and feed into the strategy.
Please register for the mailing list (below), if you would like to be kept up to date on the public spaces review.