Plans for improvements to the playground and access from South Road were approved at District Planning committee on Thursday 30th May.

The project design team continue to prepare the detail documents needed to go out for tender to appoint a contractor.

Plans showing the design proposals for Victoria Park 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/24/0113.

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

The current phase of funding is for improvements to the access from South Road and refurbishment of the playspace.

Since the last plans, the scale of works along South Road has had to be reduced due to inflation pushing the plans out of budget.

The proposals are to widen the park entrance, making it more welcoming. The existing steep slope is regraded to make access easier for all. New, wider steps lead you down towards the improved playspace.

The play area has been designed to make the most of the slope it is on. A new path running through allows everyone to access the bespoke timber play deck from the top of the slope. The wide deck is designed to be wheelchair accessible, so that children with limited mobility can play together with their able-bodied friends who may choose one of the more challenging ways up from the lower slopes.

Overlooking the splash pad, where the metal climbing frame and swings are now, a new hexagonal swing provides thrill and excitement as six people can swing into the centre towards each other at the same time.

Next to the splash pad, picnic tables and other seating make it more comfortable for families to stay for longer. A selection of other play equipment including a play hut and slide for toddlers makes the most of the lower slope. A wheelchair accessible roundabout continues to allow all children to play together.

Tree planting within the play area 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.

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/24/0113.

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 Victoria Park 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.

Surveyors will be at Victoria Park for one day during the week of 27^th March to carry out the site assessment for the Underground Utility survey. There will be no impact on use for visitors to the park.

An Underground Utility survey seeks to identify the location of below ground services such as electricity and communications cables, gas and drainage pipes.

Mid Sussex District Council are working with a Registered Practice of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors who will send one or two surveyors to scan the site. They will use a combination of Electromagnet tracing and Ground Penetrating Radar to identify the location and depth of underground services.

The drawings they produce will be used by our landscape architects to make informed decisions when deciding where to position features requiring excavation. This will safeguard contractors, and prevent disruption to utility services and delays in the project during construction.

The survey that was seeking views on how you want us to improve the play area in Victoria Park closed at midnight on 1^st March. We had a total of 60 responses, thank you to those people who shared their experiences of, and ideas for, the play area.

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

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.

MSDC Officers were in the busy, sunny playground on Wednesday 15^th February to publicise the launch of the playground consultation. Officers spoke to visitors about how they can share their views and ideas for the play area improvements by filling in the online survey. The survey is open until March 1^st.

All the feedback collected will be used to help develop the designs for the play area to create somewhere that local families really want to visit. The plans will be presented back with a further opportunity to comment in a few months’ time.

MSDC Officers also spoke to residents about their concerns about the wider park regarding such issues as litter and anti-social behaviour. These concerns have been fed to the relevant teams to handle outside of the park improvement project.

Below you will find the latest news and updates.

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