Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1 Although in general temporary buildings are being removed from county properties there is a need for one on this site to enable improvements in services to continue in the short to medium term whilst funding is found to move towards the strategic goals outlined at 6 below.

1.2 The building to be situated on land owned by Hampshire County Council at Lepe Point within the Country Park. This is the site of a former dwelling `Solent Cottage' which was demolished over 10 years ago so it is effectively a brownfield site.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

2.1 The type of building

2.2 Use of the building.

2.3 The vision for future built facilities at Lepe Country Park

3) Recommendations:

It is recommended that: approval is sought to progress this project by allowing an application for planning permission to the New Forest National Park Authority to site a temporary classroom at Lepe to go ahead.

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual Information:

1.1 Currently there is no undercover space at Lepe other than the offices and cafe, this severely limits the service that can be provided to schools, community groups and the general public.

1.2 Type of Building (plan attached):

_ Standard 3 bay prefabricated classroom

_ The dimensions of the building will be approximately 9m x 7.2m.

_ Painted green to blend into the rural location

_ Ramp to enable access for all.

_ Windows will have shutters for security.

_ The cost of purchase and installation of a new unit will be £55,000 including electricity supply (it is possible that a second hand unit will be available via PBRS which would reduce this figure)

2) Key Issues - Use of the Building

2.1. Since the appointment of a full time park manager in August 2006 a very successful Friends group has been established, guided educational visits are now offered, there are regular events for the general public and links have been made with various community groups. The 12 acre area of the park known as Lepe Point has been opened up to the public during the last year with boardwalks and all access footpaths, view points and seating. Recently a pond has been added with funding obtained via our Friends group from the Lottery Breathing Places scheme. There has been considerable positive feed back from our visitors about these developments and we wish to maintain the momentum with the addition of a multi -use community classroom which would provide increased opportunities to improve our services in the following ways

3) Educational Use (Schools and Colleges)

3.1 A large number of schools already use the site for studies linked to the science, geography and history curriculum. With the current government led agenda for Learning Outside the Classroom we are seeing an increase in bookings for both self led and ranger led educational sessions. The provision of a classroom would greatly enhance these visits and enable them to stay longer. Lepe is a very exposed location so the provision of an indoor space to retreat to in inclement weather would be very attractive, it would potentially extend the period of the year when is it possible for schools to visit Lepe. It would provide a useful space for initial briefings, a possible venue for packed lunch and would enable better facilities to be on hand for immediate follow up of fieldwork eg for examination of shore life or pond life which is not practical or desirable to take back to school.

3.2 The provision of this service to schools would not overlap with that provided by Calshot Activities Centre which mainly deals with residential groups. From recent conversations with the Field Studies manager at CAC it is apparent that they are turning away schools who want a day use facility and that this provision would be welcomed at Lepe.

4) General Public Interpretation/Events

4.1 At present the only interpretation available to anyone visiting Lepe is in the form of outdoor information boards and leaflets. The classroom could be open to the general public on days when schools were not using it and could house permanent displays about the history, geography, geology and ecology of the site or provide indoor space for small scale visiting exhibitions. This is a particularly good site for informing the public about the problems of climate change and managing the coastline for sea level rise. An indoor interpretation facility could be of particular interest to the elderly and disabled visitors to the site.

4.2 A classroom would provide somewhere to hold indoor or part indoor events and would enable us to spread our activities further into the winter months and help to raise income to be ploughed back into the park year round.

5) Community Use

5.1 We have a thriving Friends group, currently 200 members, this group provides many volunteers to help with events, practical conservation tasks and survey work in the park. The classroom would provide a meeting room for this group for talks and social gatherings and a place for conservation volunteers to be briefed or have lunch on days when they are carrying out work in the park. Currently this group have to hire facilities off site to hold meetings.

5.2 We have established links with other local community groups, scout groups, the Forest First Childrens Centre etc. These groups and others would be welcome to use the facility at times when it was not needed by the users mentioned so far.

6) Vision for future built facilities at Lepe

6.1 Eventually this temporary building and the existing offices and café would be replaced by a purpose built, much improved visitor centre located on the upper part of the park away from the threat of sea level rise and on going erosion.

6.2 This would take the form of a sustainably built visitor centre, preferably with sea views, housing interpretation exhibitions, shop, restaurant, toilets, multi-use classroom/meeting room, store, resources room and offices. This would be a key location for public education about coastal re alignment and the building itself could be a model of good practice in sustainable design thus providing further educational opportunities.

7) Actions on project so far

8) Actions Pending

9) Outline of Options

9.1 To continue without a classroom which would not allow for continued expansion of services.

9.2 To build a sustainable new visitor centre at some point in the future if funding can be identified.

10) Recommendations

Please see Executive Summary for recommendations.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

a) Better provision of indoor interpretation facilities which will enable better access for elderly and disabled visitors. The Classroom will have an access ramp.

b) Better provision for young people.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

a) This has been considered and no impact identified.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

· Short term there will be a small increase in energy use as the classroom will need to be heated during the winter months.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

· The proposed classroom is a stage on the way to re-siting Lepe facilities in a sustainable location.

· The current offices, toilets and café are in danger of flooding from on going erosion and sea level rise.