Proposals for volunteers to take over a section of a formal garden have been met with concern.
At an extraordinary finance and general purposes committee meeting on February 18, Newark Town Council members considered a request which sought the use of part of Beaumond Gardens as a community garden.
An un-named project team consisting of a chairman, secretary, treasurer, and more than 30 volunteers was detailed in the submitted proposal.
Beaumond Gardens.
Their plans were designed for the “development of a number of areas of land currently under-cultivated”, beginning with the land either side of the bowling pavilion and a flower bed around the monument at the London Road end of the gardens.
Creation of an orchard with wild flowers, and flower bed with poppies and cornflowers would be the first planting carried out.
The group anticipated seeking grants to fund its work, however meeting documents highlighted a cost of £750 to £1,000 to the council for the development of a suitable lease or licence agreement for the land, and ongoing water costs of an unknown value.
While councillors were supportive of members of the community volunteering their time, it was determined that the project could not currently be supported — due to lacking information and concerns about the proposed location.
David Moore noted that the proposal was “incredibly short on detail” and suggested that approving such a scheme would amount to “handing over one of [the council’s] prime assets”.
Barbara Corrigan echoed the sentiment on lack of detail, adding her concerns that it was a very large are of land for 30 volunteer to manage — but said she was “broadly supportive of local members of the community volunteering their time and effort”.
Glenis Rix added: “I think Beaumond Gardens is a totally inappropriate site for these plans,” while Neil Ross said: “There’s potential but I don’t think this is the right space.”
“I would be firmly against what’s described on the plan,” Jack Kellas said.
“I don’t disagree with what they’re trying to achieve as such, but it’s completely the wrong place… I would like to know who they are and if they’re aware of other projects they could be involved with.”
There was also concern about future problems if the plans were put in place. Council documents noted the risk of the authority being “left with areas of land that may need higher maintenance than what is presently required” if the group ceased to exist.
Mathew Skinner said: “There’s areas in Balderton which were taken on and then left, which are now eyesores. It may impact our maintenance agreement with Newark and Sherwood District Council.
“I think we’re just asking for a whole lot of trouble.”
However, Dawn Campbell spoke in support of the plans, adding: “I’m not against it. Formal gardens were a thing 200 years ago, you can look forward to the future.”
It was agreed to decline the group’s current request, but encourage them to engage with the council to explore other site options and present more detailed plans.
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