As the sunsets over the Planning Application, search 25/00037, to bring multiple tons of ferris wheel to Alexandra Gardens the latest paper, by the RBWM Ecology team, says because the lights are not there permanently, no need to worry about them and their impact on any local critters that might live in the park. It’s OK, they can move over the river to the brocas, it’s just a short swim, easy!
For those willing to share accommodation, there will be 4 bird or bat boxes added somewhere in the area, adding 32% biodiversity net gain, which I guess will act like blackout curtains 😉 I’m unsure how many birds roost down there, will have to pop down one evening and get a measure of their reality.
There is no mention of the financial benefits to RBWM but last year they earned £40,000. The rate card, based on heavy footfall, should be nearer £1,000,000 but hey! (There was talk of £20k and profit share last year, hence the question below.)
The lawn hasn’t yet been replaced, after being destroyed by multiple 40 ton rides being parked on Alexandra Gardens over the winter. Thousands of pounds will be spent on lawn this month that will not take and will be destroyed again by the immediate planting of the ferris wheel at the end of the month!
Why are we giving companies the go ahead to take over Alexandra Gardens for 9 months of the year and neglecting the needs and opinions of local residents?
If you would prefer it was only given over to companies for ad hoc weekend events, rather than full occupancy by a few, then you could sign the petition below… appreciate the process takes a bit of effort, it currently has 247 signatures … one local cllr suggested that was “not many” making it very apparent her thoughts on the matter!
https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=2207
8am Tuesday update: 478 have viewed this post since publishing on Saturday and an additional 24 residents have signed the petition… let others know about it, people care about Alexandra Gardens and want it back.
Thank you.
Jon
Agree 100% it’s a gardens not a park.
The trouble with advice from Ecology Teams when I worked for an architect, was that their clients were the applicants and not the local authority. Fair enough that the local authority should not pay for the reports, but it should be something the local authority commissions and made part of the application fee rather than something the developer has to submit with the application.