Kiosk plan could be a real winner

ONE of the good things over the past year has been that many people have gained a better appreciation of nature.

Whether through country walks, gardening at home or visiting local parks, all have played a part. In Cheltenham, we are blessed with many excellent local parks, which are maintained by the council.

We are now well into a programme of more sustainable planting, including more use of wild flowers, which is better for the environment because it supports more insects and needs less energy to produce than the alternative of bedding plants. It also has the added advantage of saving money.

With a big increase in the numbers of people using the local parks, the council is looking at improving the service provided by offering the opportunity of refreshments in parks where that currently isn’t an option.

New kiosks have been piloted in Hatherley Park since July and in Burrows Playing Field since October.

The one in Hatherley Park has proved such a success that we are now proposing to go to tender for a threeyear lease.

This proposal has had overwhelming

‘This proposal has had overwhelming support‘

local support from residents and the Friends of Hatherley Park.

It also has the advantage of providing new local jobs in the hospitality sector, which has taken a real hammering during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are also now proposing to extend the pilot to include Leckhampton Hill (Hartley Lane) and Beeches Playing Field from March 2021 and are starting discussions about Brizen Fields and Swindon Village Playing Field.

This has a real chance of being a win, win, win. If all goes well, there will be a better service to park users, local jobs in the hard-pressed hospitality sector and even some new income for the council.

Let’s hope that with all the bad things that happened in 2020, this will be a good one.

Councillor Steve Jordan Cabinet member for finance and assets