St Mary's Access and Green Spaces Project
Page last updated: September 2024
We have spent the summer collecting feedback on designs to improve accessibility and the use of our green spaces.
The Access and Green Spaces Project has three main aims:
1. Improve Accessibility
- Accessible doors, with button automated opening and level access, on North and South side entrances .
- Level pedestrian access from Marshalswick Lane and Sherwood Avenue
- Wheelchair access from main hall to outdoor spaces, and to Peppercorn Place
2. Widen Use
- Enclosed garden space enabling sight lines to enable safe supervision of children
- Increased Quiet Garden space and access to Peppercorn Place for community use
- New seating area on South Side
- Hard standing at front and South side to give space for community events and activities
3. Increase Visibility
- Remove two holly trees to give view from the Quadrant, and replace with new planting on south side
- Relocation of notice board on ‘front’ to pavement and additional noticeboard on south side (Marshalswick Lane)
We're really grateful to everyone who gave feedback - groups and individuals. We want to keep receiving feedback all through the life of this project; please get in touch with any ideas, questions or concerns.
Feedback
Highlights of the feedback and suggestions received are below and our responses:
- Make provision to illuminate the new noticeboards and/or consider electronic notice boards: this has been added to the specification for the Quantity Surveyor
- Go further with changing the front doors, to widening the front part of the building with a glass front entrance: this is not part of the current project, to keep it obtainable, but we have left space for a future extension of the foyer.
- Questions over the viability of the front patio area: we plan to use this for outdoor services and markets, as well as providing a space for the wider community to be able to access. But it is not at the top of funding priorities because there are limits to the space's usefulness, being next to a main road.
- Consider accessible doors: automated, glass fronted doors, on both south and north side of church are included in the spec
- creating a path from the green space at the back to Peppercorn Place: we will explore this
- Relocating path from car park to Peppercorn Place so that it doesn't cross a parking space: this has been amended
- Replacement of the two holly trees to be removed, along with any other planting taken out: we agree that this is essential and will be action as close to the removal of those trees as possible.
- Will large cars / hearses be able to turn in the car park: the car park is tight and the plans do not allow for much improvement in that. Large cars will need to do three-point turns or to reverse out, as they currently do. For funerals, the car park is managed so that hearses are able to do three point turns to exit the car park.
Priority Setting
As a result of feedback, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) have met to prioritise areas for funding and development. They are, in priority order:
- The rear green space - enclosing it to make it safe for events with children and to ensure both this space and Peppercorn Place are wheelchair accessible.
- Wheelchair accessibility of main entrance (from car park)
- Pedestrian, wheelchair accessible, path from Sherwood Avenue to front door
- South side patio and 'village green' area
Project Stages
Stages are set out below. We are now at stage 3 - our architect is working up a schedule of works for a Quantity Surveyor to provide outline costings against. This will inform a costed fundraising strategy to be formed, with phased plans.
- Work up brief and develop plans with architect (complete)
- Consult with wider community over plans (complete)
- Cost up proposals and draw up phased plan with fundraising strategy (September 2024)
- We hope to see the first parts of the plan implemented in Spring/Summer 2025
Page updated: September 2024