Hertsmere Community Spaces project - Frequently asked questions
How has the project been funded?
Hertsmere Borough Council made a successful application to the Big Lottery Fund for just over £50,000 which was awarded in August 2008. This is paid in stages until the project is completed and was supported by the borough's Play Strategy (2007-2012). A contribution of £10,000 was also made from Hertsmere's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.
Who is on the project team?
The project team delivering the shelters is made up of: Green Heart Partnership (appointed consultants managing the design and build process), Superblue (design team), Hertsmere Borough Council Officers (community services, parks and amenities, planning, corporate communications), police (anti-social behaviour team) and Aldenham Parish Council Officer (clerk).
How were the consultants appointed?
A formal tendering process took place as required by the Council's procurement regulations. Three companies were shortlisted and Green Heart Partnership was selected based on the high scores achieved against a number of criteria, notably: community consultation, appointing and managing artists and innovation.
How were the locations decided?
Extensive consultation was carried out with young people in summer 2007. This supported previous research undertaken to inform the Play Strategy, that the young people in Potters Bar, Radlett and Bushey wanted an informal meeting space and shelter. Locations within these areas have been decided based upon this feedback from the young people and in consultation with the police, Hertsmere Borough Council's parks and amenities and planning teams, and Aldenham Parish Council in respect of the Radlett site.
How can people contribute to the design process?
The appointed consultants and designers for this project have agreed with the project team a range of ways they are seeking to engage with the whole community. Three engagement events took place to attract people from the community to meet the design team, input their ideas and think about how the shelters can be used. For those that were not able to attend one of these events, there is a project website and interactive forum (www.hertsmerecommunityspaces.org) and a free postcard reply service through which anyone can provide comments.
What will be done with the feedback?
Feedback, views and ideas gathered by the design team at the engagement events, through the interactive web forum and through postcards received, were used to inform the final design of the three shelters and their specific location within the three sites. This will dictate the size, appearance and functionality of the three shelters. Each shelter will be unique to the three areas and complementary to the landscape at each site.
How will the public know about engagement events?
The events have been promoted through press releases, the project website, Hertsmere Borough Council's website and postcard (flyer) distribution. Coverage in local papers has already been achieved.
Who has the project already been communicated to?
Young people were consulted in summer 2007 and the outcomes of this informed the successful Big Lottery Fund bid. The project ambition was included in the borough's Play Strategy which was agreed by the Council's Executive in May 2007. Following awarding of the funding in August 2008 and in response to enquiries from Members among others, presentations have been made to Resources Scrutiny Committee (in January and February 2009) and Bushey Crime Reduction Group (May 2009). Local press coverage has also been achieved which has promoted the funding award and the project. And as above, engagement events have and are taking place at the sites during this summer.
When can the final designs be seen?
The design team will develop design proposals based on the views and ideas received. These design concepts were presented to Members and key stakeholders at an evening meeting on Thursday 13th August. Following this meeting the designs were revised and final designs were presented again on Tuesday 8th September. Following this presentation, the final designs will be presented to the public and was a period of two weeks for final comments before the final designs were agreed on 25th September.
Why has this design approach been chosen rather than an 'off-the-shelf' solution?
Following the consultation that was undertaken in summer 2007, which gave some early indication of what young people wanted from a meeting space, it was clear that bespoke solutions for the three areas would be needed. Some negative reactions to shelters were expressed in relation to public perceptions of brightly coloured 'bus-shelter' type solutions. It was recognised that the structures should be features that appeal to the whole community as well as young people and therefore people of all ages are being given the opportunity to influence the design. Designing three unique, visually attractive structures that are complementary to the landscapes in which they will be set, is one of the exciting aspects of a project that may be seen as a case study for innovation across the county and region.
How will you address vandalism?
It may not be feasible to design structures that are completely 'vandal-proof'. The project team, consultants and designers are undertaking community engagement to inform the design, use and specific location of the shelters within the three sites. It is hoped that, by encouraging ownership of the structures by the community through this process, people will be less inclined to vandalise them. The type of materials that can be used in structures such as these can be very robust and discourage vandalism such as graffiti because of their texture. Through involving the police in the project team the designers are taking guidance on the best ways to discourage vandalism.
Why has the project taken so long?
Any project like this takes time to coordinate and it may seem that a long time has passed without progress. However the project is actually on schedule to be completed within the time agreed with Big Lottery as a condition of the funding awarded. Expectations were first raised with the consultation that was undertaken in summer 2007 however, since the funding for the project was not awarded until August 2008, there was little activity between then. The last year has been spent undertaking the procurement exercise to appoint Green Heart Partnership, identifying key partners for the project team, agreeing the best ways to engage with the three communities and finalising and beginning work on the project plan to deliver all three shelters by Spring 2010.
How does this project relate to Hertsmere's strategic aims?
Hertsmere's Play Strategy, agreed by the Council's Executive in May 2007, identified the ambition to provide three shelters across the borough. The Play Strategy has direct links to the Council's Cultural and Leisure Strategy and contributes to aims with the community strategy especially improving and sustaining the quality of Hertsmere's environment, creating a safer environment and promoting cultural opportunities.
Key dates
July 2009
28 July - Engagement event, the Moatfield, Bushey (11am-2pm)
29 July - Engagement event, Furzefield, Potters Bar (11am-4pm)
August 2009
13 August - Presentation to Members and key partners of design concepts
Design review of structures
September 2009
8 September - Presentation of final designs
Two-week presentation period on final designs to the public
25 September - final designs agreed
Preparation of all sites for installation
October 2009
Build/installation begins at all sites
PR campaign focusing on completion
Spring 2010
Installation complete at all three sites