Hands On Our Park website (unofficial) - Consultation about Telford's Green Spaces (SWT).
In 2005, Shropshire Wildlife Trust carried out a consultation to get a better idea of the aspirations of the local community towards green space in the area.
The report is available here.
The report was not specifically about Telford Town Park, but the findings are relevant.
The consultees were: Madeley Parish Council, Green Gym, South Telford Rights of Way, Friends of Town Park, Friends of Granville Nature Reserve, Donnington Partnership, Friends around the Wrekin, Ercall Nature Reserve Wardens, Dawley Parish Council, East Ketley Parish Council, Lightmoor Action Group, Lawley Action Group, Wellington Agenda 21, Woodside Regeneration Partnership, Woodside Street Project, Severn Gorge Countryside Trust, Greenwood Trust, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Oakengates Regeneration Partnership, English Nature, Bean Hill Brook Action Group, Vicar of Eaton Constantine.
Key Themes: one was:
Local people care passionately about their local places and fear for what the future holds.
Uses as discovered from the survey
- Quiet relaxation and solitude 25%
- Appreciation of the views 30%
- Walking and quiet enjoyment 80%
- Children’s play and family outings 45%
- Watching wildlife 35%
- Outdoor education and school trips 60%
- Sports activities and letting off steam 35%
- Cycling 50%
- Horse riding 30%
- Other uses mentioned included themed activities, socialising, picnics, motor biking and for a breath of fresh air.
Other comments extracted from the report:
The key aspirations are:
- To protect the existing green space as a whole.
- It was strongly expressed that the green space is threatened by development continuously, against the wishes of local communities, and these losses are felt deeply along with feelings of betrayal.
- Better information is required to encourage usage. This would be especially useful to new residents to the town.
- At least the current area of green space, if not an enlarged area, must be protected as a resource for future generations to enjoy.