Report from Jill Floyd on the possible clearance and enhancement of the view from Broadstone War Memorial. 23rd April 2009

(For previous reports, click here)

On 8th April I met Richard Nicholson and Phillip Sinclair from Poole Borough Council's Leisure Services at the War Memorial.

They listened carefully to the request and arguments for sensitively enhancing the view from the War Memorial by possible clearance of overgrown trees, branches or shrubbery, and agreed that the view should be reinstated and hopefully without too much tree work.

I was very pleased to find they were both in favour of the whole idea and the due process will now begin. This includes the following:

• They will prepare a plan and mark the trees to fell or prune. I stressed that felling was not what we wanted if the view could be seen through the trees.
• There will be an Internal Consultation and the views of Ward Cllrs. will be sought.
• Public Site Notices will be put up
• A Report made to the Area Committee
• Continental Landscapes will be asked to quote for the work to be done.
• Any necessary applications will be made to prune or fell any trees.
• The source of funding will be identified and applied for.

As consultation with local residents is also an essential part of the process I would urge residents to look out for notices in the press, on websites and at the site itself. I have e-mailed those who had written to me to give their support and suggested that each write individually to the Council at that time to put their views.

Richard Nicholson hopes the work will have been carried out before 11th November 2009 at the latest. I have thanked him for this in particular as it shows he appreciates the nature of the Memorial.

I am quite hopeful that this view will once again be opened up and we will see the Purbeck Hills and maybe even a glimpse of the water sparkling in the distance.

Luckily it was a perfect Spring afternoon when we met, and the end of the working day, so they were well disposed from the start. Richard Nicholson had obviously never been to the Park before and was enchanted with the idea of arranging a cricket match there.

I have still not had anyone tell me they think this is a bad idea.

Jill Floyd