Bath Road Recreation Ground, Lymington

The current Pond, appeared shortly before or after WW2 and has been refurbished on several occasions. It is manually filled by L&PTC maintenance teams by opening a sluice gate from the river during high tide allowing the river to naturally fill the pond.

As the tide recedes, water is intended to remain in the pond allowing for natural dispersion.

In recent years a leak has worsened and the condition of pond and surrounds has deteriorated with visual decay to the cladding and structure of the pond,

In its current state, shortly after filling the water level drops and stagnates, until refilled at the next available high tide.

Currently there is no evidence of wildlife inhabiting the pond island and there is little biodiversity benefit in the water. However, maintaining a water feature and improving biodiversity is important and therefore a new pond is proposed.

The Bandstand

Built for the Millennium, the bandstand is a popular feature within the space and is a regularly used and enjoyed feature.

Built on a brick raised base to allow storage underneath, access to the bandstand is via stairs, the feature therefore requires safety fencing that restricts views of performances and can allow for potential anti social behaviour when not in use.

Space in the bandstand is limited by the fencing required and its popularity often forces users to set up on the area in front rather than in the bandstand itself.

Ground in front of the bandstand is water logged in winter or following wet weather restricts usage.

Being exposed to salt water sea winds the steel upper structure is in need of some corrosion repairs and preventative maintenance to prevent further deterioration. The tar sealed floor of bandstand has deteriorated and requires replacement to remove trip hazards and cracking

Recognising the popularity of the ornate feature the proposal is to relocate this to another Town Council Park and to provide a covered events space which can be used by community groups or for other activities arranged with the agreement of the Town Council.

The Playground

The playground is in a reasonable state of repair and well used.

During very wet weather the safety flooring lifts and becomes a maintenance issue.

Condition of the equipment is considered acceptable and will require replacement in years to come.

It is proposed to increase the area, flooring and equipment funded by the Town Coucnil.

Our ambition.

Bath Road Recreation Ground is one of Lymington's most important public open spaces. The aim of the project is to explore how it can become a more attractive, accessible and enjoyable place for residents and visitors, while retaining its open character and important links with the waterfront.

NFDC and L&PTC propose a considerate regeneration of the Recreation Ground to provide an accessible community space, with enhanced children's play facilities encouraging recreation with increased biodiversity.

Why Now ?

Bath Road Recreation Ground is owned and maintained by Lymington and Pennington Town Council.

In October 2024, NFDC approved allocation of money from the Strategic CIL funds to explore improvements and enhancements to five possible projects, one of which is Bath Road, Lymington. Following further discussions with L&PTC, designers were appointed to prepare designs for consultation. The concept plans are part of this consultation exercise.

With aspects of the Recreation Ground needing significant repairs from Town Council funds, it is felt now is the right time to invest in upgrading facilities for future generations.

*CIL funds are collected by NFDC (from developers) to mitigate the impacts of new development in the District through infrastructure improvements. CIL legislation require NFDC to adhere to conditions on how the funds are allocated, for example, on what types of improvements are permitted and does not permit funds to be used for regular, preventative maintenance or repairs.

What would remain?

It is important the character and use of the space is retained. Whilst new facilities will enhance and refresh the space, it is important key characteristics remain. Over the next few pages we will outline the concept proposals and how the changes could benefit the space. The lay out plan shows a conceptual aerial plan of the layout.

The changes aim to move features to make best use of space, access and maintenance, whilst considering users, neighbours and local opinion.

These include,

• keeping the Bath Road Recreation Ground as an open public space;
• significant areas of open grass remain;
• existing trees are retained;
• the children's play function is enhanced;
• pedestrian links to the waterfront are improved;
• the park continues to accommodate informal recreation.

Your Views

The proposal aims to create a vibrant, attractive and sustainable space for all visitors, supporting the community and the local economy, while celebrating the park's heritage and coastal character. Through a survey we hope the community support the proposals and contribute to the final design.

Looking east across the redesigned space.

The foreground shows potential for a redesigned, enlarged and enclosed playground area with an adjacent enclosed, dog free, grass area perhaps with picnic tables or around tree seating bench

L&P Town Council have allocated £100,000 towards a new themed play area and equipment in a larger space. A future public consultation will seek views and suggestions on the theme and layout of the play area

There are no plans to install a splash park in Bath Road Recreation Ground.

The play area design remains freely accessible during any paid events such as the regular Sea Food Festival.

The existing entrance will have wider paths leading through welcoming entrance planting as a route to Bath Road car park, Lymington harbour pontoons and sea wall footpaths beyond.

A well drained, accessible grass area is retained between new facilities and Bath Road car park.

Space for the Sea food festival and small scale events is retained. Any events will need approval from the Town Council as land owners

Looking east, entering the space from the Bath Road.

We envisage visitors passing through an enlarged welcoming entrance with potential planting, signage and a sculpture celebrating Lymington's maritime heritage, history and connection with The New Forest.

There will be new, wider accessible pathways through to the playground and pond area and heritage estate style fencing (steel) forms a boundary to the public footway.

Proposed vision looking north from the corner of Bath Road car park.

A new wide and accessible path leads through a second welcoming entrance with small scale planting as an alternative route along Bath Road.

In the foreground, pedestrian improvements are proposed across the Bath Road car park entrance, focused on providing a designated safe route to car park and boat launch areas and onto the coastal footpath beyond.

Heritage trees are retained and protected further by moving the existing vehicle access.

To right of image,

The existing vehicle entrance to the recreation ground is relocated to sea wall corner, (with no impact on parking capacity). The (vehicle entrance) surface will be protected to prevent tyre damage and will continue to allow temporary dingy storage for sailing events etc. A hard stand area will be provided for a local family run 'pop up' coffee stand.

Additional notice board/ entrance signage/sculpture will be provided.

Proposal layout, looking north from mid way down Bath Road.

With the existing sea water pond in need of significant restoration, being dangerously deep when filled and with high maintenance costs, Town Councillors have requested pond space is returned to grass and a new smaller pond is provided as a feature. The new pond will be shallow depth, easily maintained, has potential for a fountain, with the suggestion to allow small model boats to be used in the pond.

The pond would by enclosed by a small garden area containing benches and vibrant low maintenance coastal planting.

The historical 'listed' High Street fountain would be relocated as a 'feature' in a suitable location in the vicinity of the garden /pond. If permissible, the fountain could be repurposed as an ornamental fountain.

A suggested layout looking south west from corner of Lymington River bank/Berthon Yard.

The existing bandstand is too small for modern use and has restricted access, Town Councillors support the idea of a new low profile bandstand, moved to the corner space near the play ground. Facing away from residents to reduce noise impact it would be covered with open sides, to a design supported by the town council and residents.

Performances will need to be approved by the Town Council to control noise and capacity .

The Town Council propose to relocate the existing bandstand canopy in another appropriate local park space.

The space between the performance area and river would incorporate hard surfaced bunded mounds as seating, with space for deck chairs. This will allow raised viewing of the performance space and across the river.

The layout repurposes the unused corner of the space and encourages the river walkway to be used close to Berthon yard boundary.

An artist impression for the concept layout looking west across to Lymington and beyond.

The project provides an opportunity to upgrade features and facilities on offer in and around the space.

• New pond
• Improved children's play area
• New and improved accessible paths
• Improved entrances and Improved connections to the waterfront
• Small garden/water feature
• Potential flexible performance area
• New low maintenance landscaping and biodiversity improvements, new trees, hedging and 'estate style' fencing with minimal lighting.
• Seasonable beverage outlet

Your input and opinion is important to us and we would like to hear your views on the concepts proposed to develop the plan further.

Having seen the outline proposals for Recreation Ground, we invite you to complete the short survey on the link button below to inform the design further and indicate your support, or otherwise for the project.

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