Standards

Parks and Open Spaces belonging to us are managed by the Parks Officer and two Monitoring Assistants, and site maintenance is undertaken by the contractors Continental Landscapes Ltd for the parks and Smart Cut Limited for the open spaces and verges.

Our Standards:

• parks and areas of open spaces are regularly maintained and kept as clean, tidy and safe as possible throughout the year
• equipment and facilities are regularly maintained
• we follow long term management plans for the parks

To achieve these standards:

Parks:

• the main parks are litter picked daily
• litter bins are emptied daily (twice a day in summer in the main parks)
• grass is cut weekly in the summer and in some areas the cuttings are collected and in others are left, as is suitable to the particular section of the park

Play Areas:

• play equipment is inspected weekly by the contractors, operational three month's inspection by our officers, and annually by a registered outside inspector
• play areas including the water play fountains are checked and cleaned daily
• shrub beds are weeded, and pruned if necessary, once a month throughout the season
• formal bedding schemes are changed twice a year and weeded every two weeks

Trees:

• all trees are checked regularly to a programmed schedule of work

Path sweeping:

• weekly

Toilets:

• are inspected and cleaned daily

Dog waste bins:

• emptied twice a week

Graffiti:

• removed on a regular basis as soon as it has been noticed, if you do see any please help us by letting us know (ring 01386 565018 or email:  client.services@wychavon.gov.uk) or fill in our on-line reporting form.

Open Spaces and Verges:

• grass is cut every two weeks between approximately March and October.  Grass cuttings are not removed as this would more than double the costs of the service, and the ground would deteriorate as the cuttings put nutrients back into the ground.  Grass cutting does not take place in very wet or dry weather conditions
• shrub beds are weeded and litter picked  four times a year with pruning as necessary
• litter in contractual areas is collected under Environmental Protection Act 1990 by our contractors FSS Services UK.  Open spaces are inspected by our officers monthly and any fly-tipping is removed as quickly as possible.  Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping is asked to report the incident to us with as much information as possible as we will prosecute the offenders.  Please call 01386 565018 or fill in our on-line reporting form.

Garden Waste:

• dumping garden waste on a park, verge or public open space is classed as fly-tipping and can lead to prosecution and a fine.  It also detracts from the well being of the area possibly causing more rubbish to be left which could provide a haven for vermin.

Garden Gates opening onto Parks and Open Spaces:

For those people whose properties have gates which give access to our Parks and Open Spaces, we do need to clarify the legality of the situation.

The main points are:-

(a)  There is no legal right of access onto any of our Parks or Open Spaces through such gates.  This applies however long the gate has been in place.  We retain the right to close the access at some future date should it be decided to do so.

(b) If you sell or let your property, please make it clear to the purchasers or tenants that you have no legal right to use the gate and therefore cannot pass on any such right to anyone else.

(c) If you have extended your garden by, for example, placing paving stones, garden refuse, compost or any other items on the park/open space land, we now ask that you move them back into your property.  Failure to do so may result in us removing these items and charging you for doing so.

(d) It may at some point in the future be necessary to ask you to stop using this access if, for example, we wish to carry out work on the park/open space such as hedge planting along the boundary.  If this is the case we will give you notice in writing of the proposed work and will ask you to keep the gate locked and unused in future.

Responsible behaviour in Parks, Open Spaces And Nature Reserves:

• please keep dogs under control and clear up after them using the bins provided
• use the litter bins provided
• respect the trees, grass and planting and do not cause them any damage
• do not obstruct, disturb or annoy any other person using the area
• do not erect any tent, booth, stand, building or other structure
• do not enter or allow your dog to enter any ornamental lake, pond or stream or other water area
• do not pollute any water areas of any sort

NO:

• barbeques
• golf
• motor cycling
• horse riding

Further Information

For further information about the standards for our parks contact:

Client Services
Wychavon District Council
Telephone 01386 565018 - between 9am-5pm, Monday - Friday
Email client.services@wychavon.gov.uk