08 NOVEMBER - CRIME FIGURES FOR OCTOBER 2008
Harthill
1. Burglary (dwelling) - 9-11 Oct 08 at Doctor Lane.
2. Theft from motor vehicle -15-16 Oct 08 at Winney Hill.
3. Burglary (other) - 30-31 Oct 08 at Serlby Lane.
Woodall
1. Excluding M1 services = Nil.
2. Vehicle related crimes at the M1 services = 19
31 OCTOBER: - AGREEMENT REACHED FOR 20 YEAR SPENS FIELD LEASE
After nearly two years of discussion and negotiation with Rotherham Borough Council, approval has been given for a long lease which the Parish Council will hold on Spens Field. The lease will secure the land for the village for the next 20 years and will allow for development of the site for leisure and recreation purposes.
Under the terms of the lease the Parish Council will pay a minimal rent but take on responsibility for grass cutting and other grounds maintenance, a challenge it is greatly looking forward to.
The lease is expected to take effect early in the New Year.
27 OCTOBER: - PLAY AREA UPGRADE
One of the first developments on Spens Field will be the upgrading of the play area, which was announced in the last issue of The Hart. The consultation phase is now complete and Groundwork Dearne Valley and RMBC have produced a design which reflects as many views as possible.
Features
- The wooden toddler play equipment will be removed as it was felt that it was in a poor state and in the wrong location. The swings will be kept and moved into the main play area.
- Other existing play equipment is in fairly good condition and this will remain, leaving more funds for additional equipment. Existing equipment will be given a new lick of paint and the safety matting replaced by sand.
- A new entrance will be created cutting back some of the low level shrubs and bushes, providing clearer views onto the site.
- A new path will lead into a new entrance into the play area. The majority of the fencing will remain to identify it as a play area and so parents can keep an eye on smaller children although the corner will be removed to allow for the feeling of more space. A mound will act as an informal boundary marker instead and a new slide will be put down this mound.
- On top of the mound will be a seating area, including a spinning dish seat. There will also be a maze on the mound made from turf or wildflowers which will therefore not grow too high. Additional trees will also be planted to provide shade for the play area.
- New equipment in the play area will feature natural play and provision for toddlers. It will include sand play such as diggers, a log pile for climbing, boulders for climbing and sitting on, and a tunnel. A basket swing will also be included just outside the fenced area. There will also be seats and a picnic bench within the play area.
- Further up Spens Field an area will be cut away into the natural slope and a winding track will be laid. This can be used as a cycling or running track. The existing tree and seat will be at the top of this slope and swings will also be put up here to create a feeling of swinging over the edge.
- Finally the youth shelter will be removed and more informal seating put in along with a climbing net. Further low level vegetation will be removed to allow for better views into this area.
Work will commence on construction of the new play area in January and it will be completed by March 2009.
The design is shown below: -
