Footpaths or Lighting

When we originally designed the project we planned to install lighting along the new footpath through the 'long' field.  It soon became clear that some residents were not keen on the idea of lighting, and several asked for more footpaths especially in the 'lower' field.

We didn't have the funding for both.  Lighting just the one Phase One footpath (not including the woodland walk from Herbert Avenue, or the Safe Route to School) would cost approximately £25,000; for the same amount we could create about 650m of new footpaths.  We received some comments on the choice from other partners:

Conservationists (including Poole's Nature Conservation Officer and Natural England) preferred we use the money for footpaths due to concerns that lighting so close to the SSSI might disturb the nocturnal habits of some wildlife;

Dorset Police's Rossmore Safer Neighbourhood Team advised that the park is not currently a gathering place for youths during the hours of darkness, but suggest that could change if the area were to be lit.

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The red lines on the aerial photo denote the boundary of areas of SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).  No formal footpaths are permitted across any area of SSSI.

Voting closed on 31st January; the majority of people (75%) voted in favour of footpaths.

The most popular option was for a new footpath leading from Monkton Crescent to the 'long field' (#1 in orange on the aerial photo above), which we extended to link with the footpath from Turbary Close.

With the funding that remained we made some improvements to the existing path from Turbary Close which was in very poor condition and forms part of the 'Safe Route to School'.  That option came equal second in the voting, and was the most affordable.