Page last updated 4 June 2016
Open Spaces Group
Please see latest agenda and supporting documents for latest report from this group
The Open Spaces sub-group was set up in late 2012. The aim of the group is to bring together everybody who is interested in developing the open spaces in Simpson and Ashland. There is less money now for the development and maintenance of these spaces. It is now more important than ever that we have a say in the future development of our local area. The group is open to whoever wishes to come along. We work with key local service providers including the Parks Trust and Milton Keynes Council as well as the Simpson & Ashland Garden Group (SAGG) and the Britain in Bloom sub-group. Our focus to date has been around:
From autumn 2015 it is likely that the Parish Council will work with residents to develop a neighbourhood plan. A key element of this plan will be the ways in which we all would like to see the local open spaces maintained and managed in a sustainable way. The Open Spaces sub-group will provide the mechanism for residents to feed their views on open spaces into the wider consultation process. If you would like to find out more about open spaces or have any comments please contact David on 01908 395415.
- Working with representatives from Milton Keynes Council to ensure that the outsourced open space services (grass cutting, shrub and tree maintenance, etc) are fit for purpose for the parish
- Supporting residents in enhancing the local open spaces and encouraging them to liaise with the relevant agencies- for example, through the OS Group, residents recently applied for a grant to cover the installation costs of a kissing-gate to access the linear park
- Providing funding for an audit of the Simpson heritage apple trees on behalf of residents
- Linked to the above, liaising with MKC to ensure that there is a planned and sustainable programme of care for the heritage apple trees
- Working with the Parks Trust around the maintenance of the areas around the Ashland Serpent
- Organised a community clean-up of the Ashland lakes in spring 2014.
From autumn 2015 it is likely that the Parish Council will work with residents to develop a neighbourhood plan. A key element of this plan will be the ways in which we all would like to see the local open spaces maintained and managed in a sustainable way. The Open Spaces sub-group will provide the mechanism for residents to feed their views on open spaces into the wider consultation process. If you would like to find out more about open spaces or have any comments please contact David on 01908 395415.