Plans for improvements to Mount Noddy Recreation Ground were approved at District Planning committee on Thursday 15^th August.

The project design team continue to develop the detail designs to be able to appoint a contractor.

Plans showing the design proposals for Mount Noddy are now available to download from the Plans and Documents section of this page. They also form part of the planning application which has been submitted to Mid Sussex District Council – ref DM/24/0115.

The latest plans still reflect the themes that were important to people when the first round of consultation was completed.

The most significant development proposed at the recreation ground, which is a change since the last plans, is the Youth Zone. This facility now takes over the existing upper tennis courts. It aims to provide a modern facility for use by all but specifically aimed at young people who may otherwise feel they are not welcome in parks. The proposal includes a full-sized basketball court with large scale benches separating it from the rest of the space which is less formal. Tree planting softens the space whilst a large multi-person swing, hammocks and table tennis tables offer a variety of ways to hang out in the space. These were popular suggestions in the 2023 public consultation about the space.

The kick boards that used to be around the fence have already been removed to improve sight lines, a wider gap in the fence into the Youth Zone goes even further to make it is less intimidating to enter.

Elsewhere, to make sure visitors can make the most of the whole recreation ground, new paths provide better access to the southeast corner.

It is proposed that a pétanque court and improved external space by the existing pavilion make the centre of the park more of a hub for the community. There is improved outdoor space for the children’s nursery, and more level access to the bowls green.

New seating installed around the path network offers somewhere for park users to sit.

The intention is to improve the surfacing within the play area to make it more accessible, with some new picnic tables and swings making it easier for families to stay for longer.

Tree planting around the recreation ground is an investment for the future, to provide shade for hot days, home for wildlife as well as helping to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

The lower tennis courts have already been improved thanks to funding from the LTA.

If you would like to see the more detailed information included in the planning application, or comment on the planning application, please do so via the online public register - https://pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-applications/ and enter reference number DM/24/0115.

If you have a general question about the project this can be submitted either using the Ask a Question option on the Hub or by sending an email to parksopenspaces@midsussex.gov.uk

To understand what happens next, please see the Project Lifecycle on this page. The plans have been checked by a professional Quantity Surveyor who has provided a cost estimate for the works which show the design is currently within budget. But it is important to note that these are estimates and that prices could rise when we get quotes from contractors which could mean changes will need to be made.

Surveyors will be at Mount Noddy during the first couple of weeks of September to carry out the site assessment for the Ground Investigation survey. This will involve drilling in locations agreed with the design team engineers.

Mid Sussex District Council are working with a member of the Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists. They will use a track mounted hydraulic drilling rig to drill exploratory holes which can then be used for testing. They will fence off the area whilst they are working and backfill the holes once they are finished.

A Ground Investigation survey seeks to establish the soil and rock profile. The data they collect will form part of a report used by the design team engineers when designing drainage features or foundation details.

During the public engagement which took place in February-March 2023, we heard people’s concerns about anti-social behaviour. The project team have been working hard to try to address these concerns in the short term whilst the masterplan is being developed for longer term benefits.

One of these short term, quick wins, has been the removal of the boards from around the base of the tennis courts. These wooden boards were in place to be rebound walls if the courts were ever used for football. This meant they blocked views into the tennis courts, across the park and visually cut off the path to the north from the rest of the park. This caused people to feel unsafe.

The boards were removed in early May to help make the park feel lighter and more welcoming, to improve sight lines and enable passive surveillance. This has been done with the support of Sussex Police.

Landscape Architects are continuing to develop the plans. What this space to find out when we will be publishing them.

Sussex Police’s local Police Community Support Officer met with a member of the masterplan project team on Monday 17^th April to talk about how the masterplan improvements can help to reduce anti-social behaviour within the park. She has a particular interest in solving the problem of ASB that has been occurring at Mount Noddy.

MSDC will continue to work closely with the Police as the plans develop.

Our contractors will be carrying out essential tree maintenance work at Mount Noddy recreation ground on Tuesday 14 – Friday 17 March and Tuesday 21 – Friday 24 March inclusive. To ensure the safety of the public and our contractors, access along adjacent pathways will be restricted during these works which are expected to take a maximum of four days over each visit for completion.

This work is part of the regular routine maintenance of the recreation ground and is not part of the masterplan improvement scheme. Any queries should be directed to parksopenspaces@midsussex.gov.uk

The survey that was seeking views on how you want us to improve the play area and what youth facilities we should provide in Mount Noddy closed at midnight on 8^th March. We had a total of 71 responses, thank you to those people who shared their experiences of, and ideas for the park.

All the responses have been sent to our Landscape Architects to consider whilst developing the designs for the play area and youth zone.

The developed plans will be presented back to the public with a further opportunity to comment in a few months’ time. Make sure you subscribe and follow the project to be notified when the plans are ready.