Technical Notes 2022, Issue 03 - General Capital Grant 2021-22 for Play Park Renewal and Nature Restoration Fund
Report by:
Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive
TN Number:
003-22
Subject:
General Capital Grant 2021-22 for Play Park Renewal and Nature Restoration Fund
Responsible Officer:
Gillian Telfer, Greenspace & Streetscene Manager
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
Section
The purpose of this Technical Note is to update Elected Members regarding additional funding received via Scottish Government General Capital Grant 2021-22 allocation.
The additional amounts have been allocated for Renewal of Play Parks throughout all local authorities (£5 million), Nature Restoration Fund (£5 million) and Aberdeen City Deal Digital Project (£3 million) agreed by Scottish Ministers.
I can advise that East Dunbartonshire received allocation of £102,000 additional funding for Play Park Renewal and £79,000 from a Nature Restoration Fund.
Please note that all additional capital funding must be spent by the end of the 2021/22 financial year.
In relation to play and on the basis of the conditions of the grant and existing work programmes the Council’s Streetscene Technical Support Team within the Roads & Environment Service allocated £102,000 to the following play area upgrades - £90,000 towards the upgrade of Meadowburn Play Park, Bishopbriggs and £10,000 towards Woodhead Play Park, Kirkintilloch to complement existing capital and developer contributions in place for the aforementioned projects. A contingency of £2,000 has been set aside for any unforeseen works related to play park upgrading.
In addition, the Service has also submitted information to Scottish Government for a further allocation of funding to cover a wider programme of Play Area renewal and renovations targeting all geographical area within East Dunbartonshire.
In relation to the Nature Restoration Fund, the Service has identified appropriate projects that can be procured, undertaken and completed by end of March 2022. A basic summary of the location and nature of the works are as follows:-
Torrance West Balgrochan Marsh, Torrance: creation of two amphibian ponds and removal of invasive willow scrub.
Lenzie Moss Local Nature Reserve, Lenzie: creation of one pond and Water Vole habitat.
Biodiversity Friendly Bulb Planting (various sites) - Wester Cleddens Road Open Spaces, Boghead Road Open Spaces, Gallowhill Road Open Spaces, machine bulb planting of pollinating friendly bulb mixes to create pollinator stepping stones within the urban area. Areas will flower from late Winter to June/July.
Millersneuk Marsh (Lenzie): updating the existing Management Plan, data gathering through a Water Vole Survey, installation of artificial dams to re-wet the area, creation of 2 wading bird scrapes and two mini ditches, with the removal of approximately 0.5 Ha of scrub.
Merkland Local Nature Reserve: management of species rich wet grassland, the installation of a Barn Owl Box and 8 bat and 20 bird boxes.
Whitefield Pond - Installation of 8 bat boxes, 12 bird boxes, 1 Tawny Owl eco box; 80 3 litre pot native white and yellow water lilies and 40 1 litre pot broad-leaved pondweed
Colquhoun Park: Works will comprise of scrub removal within the SuDS pond, the creation of 2 amphibian hibernacula, and installation of eight bat boxes.
Kilmardinny Loch: removal of scrub/emergency vegetation along with invasive rhododendron, installation of 12 bird and 8 boxes.
Cairnhill Woods: understory planting of ivy and bramble along with mixed deciduous trees and Holly. Installation of 8 bat boxes and 12 bird boxes.
Bishopbriggs Open Spaces comprising of Low Moss, Bishopbriggs Park, Callieburn Park, Hilton Park, Leisuredrome; Wester Cleddens Road Open Space, Meadowburn Road Woods, Letham Drive Open Space and Cadder Cemetery: installation of 71 bird boxes, 41 bat boxes and 4 Tawny Owl boxes.
