VIEWS on proposals for the future of the play area on Monmouth’s Chippenham Mead are being invited ahead of a council meeting in February.

Some residents had expressed concerns over the position of the play ground, citing noise and pollution from the nearby A40, with campaign group Friends Of Chippenham Mead forming a petition and a number of alternative locations for the play area.

The plans, outlined in the report, include the construction of an ‘acoustic fence’ and alterations to the bund separating the play area and the rest of Chippenham Mead.

In 2014 Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) allocated Section 106 (S106) funding of £335,000 to 11 projects, one of which was the refurbishment of the main town centre play area at Chippenham Mead. A sum of £85,000 was allocated for this project.

During the extended consultation period on this project there has been a significant number of representations received by both the County Council and the Town Council, with opinions split between the relocation of the play area to Area C, just off Blestium Street, and the refurbishment of the play area in its current location.

Chippenham Mead is a registered village green and a Scheme of Regulation was drawn up by the former Monmouth Borough Council in 1987 in relation to the village green. According to the report, relocating the play area would mean MCC would need to apply for Welsh Government consent for the works under the provisions of the Scheme of Regulation. It is believed this could take some time to process and may require a public inquiry to deal with the application – which, in turn, could lead to further delays and additional legal costs.

Having reviewed the submission made by FCM and the representations received, officers are recommending that the play area should be refurbished in its current location but that the footprint of the play area should be altered.

These plans involve remodelling the earth bund that is currently located in front of the play area, which will make the play area more visible from the rest of Chippenham Mead and the adjoining footpaths, and erecting an acoustic fence on top of the relocated bund to reduce noise interference experienced on site from the adjoining A40 dual carriageway. The plans also seek to redirect the footpath that currently runs through the centre of the play area so that it sits outside of the revised play area footprint.

It is expected that the extra cost for these plans will be met from remnants of a £50,000 grant awarded to the Monmouth Gateway Project in 2014. In May 2016, £30,000 of the grant was offered to other projects including the Overmonnow Ty Price Community Hall and the Drybridge Play Area Project.

MCC is inviting residents, businesses and organisations to submit comments on a report to be put before cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday 7th February.  Comments must be provided by 5pm on Thursday 18th January.

The report will consider the future position of the play area on Monmouth’s Chippenham Mead.

Councillor Bob Greenland, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for leisure said: “This issue has generated strong opinions in the town over an extended period and it is important that the decision-making report put before cabinet captures the full range of views so that an informed decision is made.”

Anyone who wishes to offer comments should email the council’s Community Infrastructure Coordinator Mike Moran on [email protected] or write to Mike Moran, Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Usk, NP15 1GA by 5pm on Thursday 18th January.