A blog post by Councillor Spring.
Since our election to represent the people of Rainham North in May 2023 we have been actively engaged in dealing with some issues over and around the nursery at Cozenton park, the issue of anti-social behaviour and the use of the park generally. We have been speaking with local residents and liaising with the council over issues. We are pleased to state and report to those residents that the fencing around the nursery was all updated and this has greatly reduced the anti-social behaviour that arose in that site.
During our discussions with the council, we presented some thoughts which we took on board from some of our residents on how the site could be developed. We are delighted to report that a significant amount of S.106 investment has been provided in addition to funds from the former nursery site. As a consequence of this, the council has opened up a consultation on how the funds could be used to improve Cozenton park and the former nursery.
On Saturday, 18 May 2024, we attended the first open public consultation event along with members from the Medway green spaces team. This was a really popular session in which over a hundred people attended and had some very helpful. Many of those in attendance shared their thoughts and completed the consultation forms. We are committed, as is the Medway green spaces team, to improve this area. The funds are there. The consultation period commenced formally on the 7 May 2024 and closes on the 18 June 2024. From the public consultation event on the 18 May 2024, we welcomed suggestions to the conversion of the old nursery to an allotment which will also be used as an educational facility for local schools. The wider Cozenton park use was to have improved public access, an increase in the size of the skate-park, improving the children’s play area even having an outdoor gym in the grounds (with various suggestions on the location within the park). The Medway green space team are hosting a second public consultation event on the evening of Thursday, 23 May 2024 at the Rainham library.
We therefore encourage our constituents to participate in this consultation. A suggested proposal plan is created to help fuel your thoughts. This can be considered at: https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/8676/cozenton_park_proposals_map
You can complete a consultation response via the following link: https://surveys.medway.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=171465435059
It is our park, for our residents. Therefore, please let us and the Medway green space team know your thoughts on how the park is currently being used and how you would like to see the area used by completing the consultation responses.
