Charsfield Recreation Ground Chair's Report

Chair’s report for the Year 2023-24

Summary

1. Introduction

2. Fundraising

3. Grants

4. ROSPA report

5. Recreation ground maintenance

6. Tennis

7. Looking ahead 2025

1. Introduction
During 2023-2024 a number of new faces have joined the committee.

Jan Pedgrift has become President of Charsfield Recreation Ground charity. Jan is well known in the village and has a wealth of experience with her former involvement in the creation of the recreation ground and role as secretary on the committee. She is also chair of Charsfield Parish Council.

Sue Mcentegart has become the new secretary
Arthur Considine has become the new treasurer.

Jan Carley – vice chair
Jan Richardson – conservation and assistant secretary

Ian Miller – recreation ground maintenance

Steven Smith – recreation ground maintenance and transport

Thanks goes to the committee during the last year for all their efforts especially their commitment to Charsfest.

2. Fundraising

Charsfest

· Charsfest went ahead this year as planned and in spite of the weather was a success. The inclement weather impacted the numbers attending but a good net income of over £800 was raised after expenses.

Our thanks to all those that supported Charsfest, including those that helped with the set up and recovery of the marquees and tables, chairs, BBQs and our of course our stallholders.

Thanks also go to:-

§ The village hall for providing and operating the bar

§ David Wolf and Amanda Illing for providing the P.A. system, additional marquees and the Crepery.

§ Jeremy Gugenheim for taking over the P.A. system at a moment’s notice.

§ Peter Holloway for organising the vintage fire engines and other vehicles and doing the MC

§ Alan Ward for all his work in helping the setup and transportation of tables and chairs and for organising the vintage motor bikes and etc.

§ Markham Funeral Service for providing “Jim” – the Suffolk Punch

§ To everyone else that turned up on the day and made it a success

· The Autumn and Spring brunches, along with the Autumn quiz raised over £750.

· Donations included generous donations of £300 from our friends at CADS and £200 from the village hall. Our thanks.

· The 100 club raised nearly £700

· We also received a grant from Charsfield Parish Council for £1000 towards the day to day running costs of the recreation ground.

3. Grants
Antony Wilson was successful in obtaining a grant for £15,000 from the Holiday Foundation. This money has been ring fenced for the Children’s play area. The funds will go towards repairs to existing equipment and for a new perimeter fence.

The ROSPA report highlighted a number of areas that need improvement. See section 4.

Sizewell C Community Fund – grant opportunity

A meeting with a representative of the Sizewell C Community Fund was held on 29th October and was attended by Antony Wilson and Gerry Smith.
The viability of a grant application was discussed and would be based on any significant impact that the construction of Sizewell C would have on the village. Work is already in progress excavating a large area of land just North of Wickham Market. This has been earmarked for a “park and ride” for Sizewell C workers. It has already been recognised that the park and ride would see a significant traffic increase on the B1078. However it is up to the community to provide evidence to support the application.

As indicated a major impact will be the significant increase in traffic on the B1078. This will have a direct impact on road safety and an increase in both noise and pollution. It could also have a direct impact in relation to diverted traffic in The Street as demonstrated recently by the closure of the B1078.

The recreation ground is currently working in collaboration with Simon Rixon from Charsfield Parish Council and Martin Lyne and Chris Warman who have been involved with the community speed watch and SAVID programmes.

4. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) report

· The ROSPA report identified a number of issues with the children’s play area equipment. The report reflected a number of areas that were identified in last year’s report.

· One “Amber/Red” issue identified last year was the climbing rope equipment and resulted in this apparatus being taken out of use.

· The wooden supports of the infants’ swings were once again identified as deteriorating.

· The rubber chippings base also needs to be improved/replaced. This was highlighted again in this year’s ROSPA report.

· The remaining wooden edging was also highlighted again and a number of possible solutions have been explored but as yet no decision has been made.

· The issues highlighted in the report have been categorised in a work plan and prioritised. Some are simple fixes, some will need volunteers and some will require major repair (wooden swing supports for example). One item, the zip wire, will require a visit by a professional contractor employed by the original supplier (Kompan). Kompan has been contacted. Money from the grant secured by Antony Wilson has been set aside for this work

· Some of the play equipment is 15+ years old and so it is not surprising that it is showing its age. To this end the committee is looking at the potential for grants to replace equipment and to fund new projects going forwards, such as the conservation area and to improve access to the recreation ground for the local school. The Sizewell C Community Fund is an example of this work.

5. Recreation ground maintenance

· Access from St Peter’s Close – pathway complete. The original planned access was to the northwest corner of recreation ground. The path was to be provided by Park Properties and was to intersect the existing tarmac path. However this changed to the current access with Park Properties provided the path to approximately the same length. This has led to a gap between the toilets and access to St Peter’s Close. This work highlighted the challenge involved to engage contractors for “smaller jobs”. It took 12 months to obtain 2 estimates and for the work to be completed.

· Wildlife flower area – this was planted towards the end of June which was late quite in the growing season. However a number of flowers did bloom. It is anticipated that we should see a good variety of wild flowers next spring.

· The quality of the grass has continued to improve from the previous year. The regular cutting and weed suppression has come at an increased cost but the results can be seen.

· The hedges around the car park have now been cut back and are looking neat and tidy.

· One third of the conservation area has been cleared. This is in keeping with the plan from Suffolk Wildlife Trust which recommended that the area should be “managed” over a 3 year period. Another third will be cleared next year

6. Tennis

· 24 annual household permits have taken out for this season (23 in 2023) and 2 single use permits. The household permit offers exceptional value for money at £30 for the year.

· The online booking system is proving popular for new permit holders.

· The income from the tennis section has increased from the previous year.

· Some maintenance work will need to be undertaken in 2025. This includes weed management and cleaning of the tennis and MUGA court surfaces.

7. The challenges going forwards

· The day to day running costs of the recreation ground have increased significantly. The addition of the toilet block has added a further £700 a year in recurring costs. This includes standing charges for the utilities and annual servicing contracts. In addition costs of insurance, maintaining the hedges and grassland have all increased. The day to day running costs are now in the region of £4,000 – £4500. This is before any repairs to the play equipment is taken into account.

· The committee is made of volunteers from the community who give their time and effort to ensure that the village has an area that people can go and sit, walk their dog or take their children/grandchildren into a safe quiet environment.

· There are usually 4 committee meetings a year plus an AGM. The “hands on” maintenance at the recreation ground involves some gardening (weeding, using secateurs and a rake), tightening loose bolts, for example. There are usually 2-3 “task force” mornings a year.

· I would urge individuals within the village community to ask themselves whether they could give some of their time to support the activities at the recreation ground, either by joining the committee or participating in a task force activity. The adage “many hands make light work” does apply and one can glean a great deal of satisfaction by being part of and contributing to the community.

My thanks to those that supported us on Sunday mornings during the year.

· It is difficult to acknowledge but unfortunately it is true that if we do not have the support of the community then there is a genuine risk that the recreation ground will become unviable and would therefore close. Please do consider either joining the committee or giving some of your time help on a “task force day”.

With your support we will ensure that there is a recreation ground in Charsfield that can be enjoyed by all and be there for future generations.

Thank you

Gerry Smith

Chair

Charsfield Recreation Ground Committee

Charsfield Recreation Ground Chair’s Report

Charsfield Recreation Ground Chair’s Report