South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 04/06/2013

Members of the council’s Communities Committee voted tonight (Wednesday 5 June) to allocate £21,731.61 to the farm via the council’s Section 106 Open Spaces programme.

The project, which was designed in consultation with the South Gloucestershire Disability Action Group, will see a range of access improvements throughout the farm site.

They include new path surfaces suitable for wheelchair users and those with other special mobility needs, as well as improved access to the farm’s animal enclosures and other visitor facilities.

Chair of the council’s Communities Committee Cllr Claire Young said: “Grimsbury Farm is a very popular and well-used community facility in South Gloucestershire and this Open Spaces programme funding will ensure that even more members of our community will now be able to enjoy its attractions.”

The council’s Section 106 Open Spaces Programme allocates funding for community infrastructure that has been agreed between the council and developers as a condition of planning permission.

This month’s committee also approved two other Section 106 Open Spaces projects in the Kingswood area, including a £5,000 scheme to improve access facilities at the Made for Ever Youth Centre, and a £25,000 project to improve the green at the centre of the Kingsmeadow Estate.

The Kingsmeadow scheme will see the creation of a ‘nature zone’ with new seats and trees, and an ‘active zone’ featuring a fitness station with outdoor gym equipment.

The works will begin during this financial year and will be managed and delivered by the council’s StreetCare Community Open Spaces Team working with local communities.

* Grimsbury Farm has an Open Farm day on Sunday 9 June, 10am to 3pm, with a variety of farm machinery on display and activities including sheep shearing, displays and animal grooming. See http://www.fogf.co.uk for more information.