Easington Recreation Ground is in line for an extensive upgrade. As part of Banbury Town Council’s rolling parks improvement programme, a £350,000 modernisation of the park will take place. Plans include: new children’s play areas, improvements to the football pitches and refurbished changing rooms.
Conservative-controlled Banbury Town Council has also secured an arrangement with Harriers Banbury Academy to help ease congestion on roads neighbouring the park. Under the new scheme, Harriers School will supply parking for the local football team at weekends. In return, Banbury Town Council will reconfigure the car park to increase capacity as well as installing secure gates to ensure safety for all users.
Of the plans, Leader of Banbury Town Council, Councillor Kieron Mallon said: “This agreement has been a long time coming. I am delighted that we have found a mutually beneficial solution for the school, residents and park users alike and I thank Harriers School for their co-operation. There have been a lot of misconceptions surrounding the scheme, but, to clarify, parking for park users will NOT be available during school hours. The car park at Harriers school will be open for limited hours and at weekends only."
Easington North Town Councillor Tina Wren added: "We are fortunate to have such vast green space on our doorstep. However, the park does need upgrading. It is not right that Easington should miss out on its share of improvements. The rec is there for leisure, sport and exercise. I am confident that the new facilities will be well-used by local residents and look forward to seeing the end product.”
Thanks to this new arrangement, a previously submitted planning application for a car park on the rec has now been removed.
Works on the park’s recreational improvements and the school site will take place during the summer.
To coincide with the improvements in the park, Conservative County Councillors have committed to laying down double yellow lines in neighbouring residential streets. The new restrictions at the junction of Easington Road and Horton View, and on St Georges’ Crescent, will help to prevent dangerous and inconsiderate parking.
Conservative Councillor for Calthorpe Eddie Reeves said: “I am pleased that these protections will be put in place. The roads adjoining Easington recreation ground are very narrow and inconsiderate parking makes them potentially hazardous. I am sure that double yellow enforcement will be welcomed by local residents, road users and pedestrians alike.”
