Updated
25th January 2012
Latest:
The Mulberry tree that fell
during the recent high winds has
now been propped up (photo
right); the area
around it will be mulched in due
course [more
about the tree]
Work on the rest of the layout
is progressing well:
- The ramps, steps and
walls that form the central
feature are nearly complete (photo
right)
- The path from Seldown
Bridge down the side of the
swimming pool building is now
being laid (photo right)
- The turf on the large
bank to Seldown bridge shall be
finalised soon.
-
Chestnut Nursery are
planting shrubs in the bed near
to Kingland Road; the nursery
will look after the shrubs in
the future too.
- The small bank between
the subway and Kingland Road can
not be finalised as we are
waiting for Scottish & Southern
Electric contractors to install
the power for the new lighting
scheme
- The paving will be
brought across the front of the
swimming pool building over the
next few weeks and night work
will mean that the centre stays
open at all times.
- The works will then
start to move out of the site
towards the car park, with paths
being opened up whenever
possible and the project
completing at the end of
February.
There will be no disruption to the
normal opening of the Everyone Active:
Poole centre by any of the works.
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The
project developing, December 2011
Click on the panoramic views for a full size image
This
project aims to
improve the concourse fronting the Dolphin
swimming pool
(now known as Everyone Active Leisure Centre), with the aim
of raising the quality of landscaping and providing a more
attractive space for people to enjoy by installing & creating:
-
New
lighting
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Bollards to restrict vehicle access
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Bike
racks, bins and benches
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Wide, terraced grass banks
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A
central feature with granite block walls
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29
semi-mature trees planted
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Retention of the Mulberry tree to the front of the
swimming pool building.
The concourse was an
uninviting, poorly used space in a key town centre location. Pedestrian
links are overly hard landscaped, untidy and uninspiring. A wall, raised beds and planters block various sightlines and the
whole area will benefit from being opened up and landscaped.
The project
has a budget of £200,000.
The Mulberry
tree
With
great regret it is acknowledged that
some roots of the Mulberry tree were damaged as part of
the works on the new landscaping
scheme. High winds in January 2012,
coupled with damage to a tension
root on the windward side of the
tree caused the tree to go over.
Formative pruning has been
undertaken and the tree has been
propped to prevent any further
rotation in high winds and to
provide support to the largest
branches in to the future. The area
around the has been mulched to
improve growing conditions.
The
tree will be regularly monitored and
it is hoped it will remain healthy .
The arboriculturalist involved in
the props and pruning of the tree is
confident that it will continue to
survive and remain a prominent
feature. However, If at some time in
the future the tree becomes unstable
or unhealthy a replacement shall be
planted in its place.
The
new 'Seldown Park'
The improved space will be known as ‘Seldown Park', in
recognition of Seldown House that once stood in the grounds of
the original Poole Grammar School (before it moved in 1966), which lends its name to the adjacent bridge.
Seldown Park is set to
become an attractive town centre greenspace. It will
extend Poole Park ‘outwards’ and link well with any future work
in the town centre north area, between the bus station and the
Lighthouse Centre for the Arts.
The new designs (right)
show the conceptual view from above, with individual views at
the entrance from Poole Park, from the subway and the swimming pool give an impression of how the new park will feel and
look. Gentle slopes, terraced grass areas, a new footpath layout
and paved central area with seating, lighting and semi-mature
tree planting will all significantly add to the appeal of the
space.
Public Consultation
An initial consultation was
carried out at the Dolphin pool between 4th-6th February 2010, with
a display left in place for two weeks afterwards. Completed
questionnaires supplied us with information about
people's existing use of the space and how they would like to
see it developed in the future.
Two concourse
design options were then displayed at the Dolphin pool on Friday 4th
& Saturday 5th June, with computer-generated
‘walk-thru’ movies providing a 3D representation of how the
space could look in the future. The
initial consultation period ended Friday, 18th June 2010.
Local artist and sculptor
Rachel Huggett, commissioned to
create a central feature for the new landscaping
project, sought input from residents
through a public art workshop on Friday, 21st
January 2011.
Project
Details
-
Design stage budget: £13,200
-
Construction budget:
£200,000
-
Funding:
Planning Obligations (Poole
Town)
-
Main contractor:
Banyards
of Wimborne
-
Landscape designs by Dumitru
Furnea, Leisure Services Greenspace Development Team
-
Public art by
local artist
and sculptor
Rachel Huggett
-
Lead Officer Martin
Whitchurch . 01202 261323 .
Email Martin
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Click on images to enlarge them: |
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25th January:
the Mulberry tree has been propped up |
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25th January: the
ramps, steps and walls that form the central feature |
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25th January:
the new footpath from Seldown Bridge |
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12th January: the Mulberry tree fell in the high winds |
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12th January: new views & tree planting |
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12th January:
progress on the new design |
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5th Dec: new granite paving |
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1st Nov:
the
Mulberry looking fantastic in the winter sun |
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13th Oct: temporary bike racks |
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An
overview of the final plans for a new Seldown Park
(updated June 2011) ... and how it was ... |
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Each graphic
below will open in a new window: |
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Computer-generated
graphic : view from Poole Park
across Kingland Road to the Dolphin |
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Computer-generated
graphic : view
across the site from the Seldown Bridge subway |
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Computer-generated
graphic : view
from the Dolphin swimming pool towards Poole Park
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3D computer modelling of the improved space |
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