Feedback updated 5 September 2017

We Asked

We asked people who live and work in the borough what they thought about the Draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

You Said

We received and processed over 140 completed questionnaires and had individual meetings with local residents’ associations and other stakeholder groups. We held workshops with ‘friends of parks’ groups as well as focus groups and the Barnet Youth Board.

You told us that you recognise the importance of the borough’s parks and the need to preserve and enhance them. Responses confirmed an understanding that the projected growth in the borough’s population would influence the level of demand for open space in different parts of the borough.

Proposals for investment in parks was strongly supported in the consultation responses and there was a recognition that there was a real opportunity to bring significant amounts of external funding into the borough. Strong support was expressed for better signage, enhanced horticulture and more toilet facilities.

Options for the future management and funding of parks were considered to require further consultation and detailed development. There was a recognition of the need to address how to achieve an aspiration for a high quality service in the context of the need to identify budget savings.

We Did

Your feedback gave us significant information on the draft Parks and open Spaces Strategy and helped us to finalise the strategy to include more robust text on the options on how the parks service is run, as well as include specific points raised about dog walkers and specific parks. The council wants to continue the dialogue about how parks and open spaces will evolve and how the service will be delivered in future with people who live and work in the borough. The final strategy was approved and adopted at the Environment Committee meeting on 12^th May 2016. You can view the final strategy here.