HeatHfield PaRK community planning workshop report

1.13 - 15 scoping workshop, 22 November 20111.13 Holy Trinity ChurchHoly Trinity Church also runs a number of community projects, most notably its Community Garden and its Wildflower Meadow initiative as partof its Living Churchyard Project. Part of the project focus is to create better access for people to use the open space as a resource and to encouragewildlife through creating improved habitats. As well as caring for the churchyard this project considers issues around best use of the space whilsthonouring those buried here, community maintenance and people and wildlife benefits.The main aim is to encourage people to ‘get involved’ and participate in activities such as youth projects as well adult organisations such as theHope Community Project and Walking for Health. Funding comes from a number of sources: the renovation of the graves in the Almshouses areawere financed by Wolverhampton City Council and the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.The Community Garden was funded by a grant of almost £50,000 from Community Spaces, managed by Groundwork UK on behalf of the BigLottery Fund. The Wildflower Meadow was made possible through a grant of approximately £84,000 from Natural England as part of its Access toNature programme funded from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative.1.14 EDUCaTIOnSteve Hammond introduced the HeathPark School. Under the “Building Schoolsfor the Future” (BSF) programme, HeathPark School will be rebuilt through a privatefinance initiative. Construction is scheduledto begin in the third quarter of 2012 and theprovisional opening date is September 2014.The new school will see the developmentof a state of the art building that comprisesoutdoor learning spaces, recreational facilitiesand sports facilities and a new ICT facility. Partof the College’s remit is to provide access forthe community to facilities and training.1.15 recreationAmanda Bevan of the Tessa SandersonFoundaton described the Foundation’s planto redevelop Heath Town Baths and Library.To this end it is seeking potential fundersand will hold a formal consultation with thecommunity. The Foundation’s vision is tocreate a ‘sports academy’ where residents canparticpate in sport and receive coaching tofulfill their potential and possibly compete atan elite level.1.16 HEALTHWolverhampton has two main healthcareinstitutions within the Heathfield Park area- Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust(PCT) and the Royal Wolverhampton NHSTrust. Dr Adrian Phillips , Director of PublicHealth, Wolverhampton PCT set out the coreaim of the PCT is the provision of primarycare in the City of Wolverhampton. Healthcare provision has been identified as a priorityin the Heathfield Park area. To this end, aPrivate Finance Initiative has been negotiatedwith PFI Lift Company to build a newhealth facility in Heathfield Park. Planningpermission has been granted for this healthcentre to be built on the Duke of York siteon the Wednesfield Road. The PCT are nowawaiting approval from the Strategic HealthAuthority which should be granted by early2012.David Loughton, Chief Executive, RoyalWolverhampton NHS Trust set out the positionof New Cross Hospital within the area andexplained the challenge of being a ‘goodneighbour’ to local people living in an areaserved by the Hospital. In April 2011, theRoyal Wolverhampton NHS Trust increasedits capacity through a merger with the PCT’scommunity services. An initial proposal toprovide a home-based community healthcare services - thereby avoiding the pressureassociated with hospital visits - is no longerviable following the withdrawal of funding.David Loughton highlighted that a long-termsolution is required to address car parking inthe vicinity limited of New Cross Hospital andreduce its impact on local residents.18 PRINCE’S FOUNDATION PROJECT REPORT