Tell us what you think about our site...
| Welcome to the Borough of Broxbourne | What is New | Website Map | Search | Help menu | Complaint procedure | Privacy statement | Online feedback | List Access Keys |

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions – Cedars Park project

 

What are the benefits of this project?

  • Removing the Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) from the English Heritage at Risk Register
  • Uncovering more about important history of the site and explaining it in an interesting and accessible way
  • Making more of the existing historic features
  • Discovering/uncovering more historic artefacts and evidence
  • Improving the park café and toilets/repairing derelict buildings
  • Providing new community meeting space on site
  • Over 2,500 new trees will be planted on site
  • New natural play feature for families – bocce, turf maze, willow tunnel
  • Getting lots of people involved in volunteering at the park
  • Enhancing the biodiversity of the park.
  • Providing more events
  • Improved accessibility around the park for wheelchairs, buggies and less able people
  • Providing a focal point for the Borough
  • Raising the profile of this green and historic Borough for visitors
  • Creating a better green barrier between the park and the dual carriageway, increasing seclusion and reducing traffic noise.

                                         

Why carry out this project?

  • Cedars Park is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, having historic significance on a national level as one of the main Tudor Palaces of its day. The Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) is the responsibility of the Council and is in need of significant repair; English Heritage has placed the site on the English Heritage At Risk Register.
  • The Council is maximising its financial responsibilities to the site to leverage external funding support from the lottery to allow conservation and improvements to the Borough’s flagship park. This is also a key London 2012 'legacy' project for the Borough which will bring over £2million external investment to Cedars Park, including funding for a three year activity programme and outreach service. This will allow more local schools and community groups into the park for learning and enjoyment.

 

Won’t traffic be significantly increased with lots of coaches travelling up Theobalds Lane?

  • The proposals are designed to provide improved facilities for existing users of the Park and the local community, rather than attracting any significant increase in visitors. By providing additional and better quality car parking within Cedars Park year round, it will reduce the need to park on Theobalds Lane and improve highway safety.  The park would also become accessible for mini buses from local schools and community groups such as uniformed groups and those with special needs.  There are six primary schools within 1.5km of the park and two local secondary schools, one within easy walking distance.   The Council is also considering introducing a 20 mph speed limit and traffic calming measures on Theobalds Lane between the proposed new access and the A10 to further improve safety along this road.

 

Why does the car park need relocating?

  • The current tarmac car park is insufficient to cater for the general day to day usage of the park (66 per cent of park users visit by car) and the current overflow is situated on the SAM, and needs to be relocated to a less sensitive area within the park. Concern is for compaction and contamination on the monument, which is predominantly underground (foundations) but still requires conservation and protection. There is no parking and circulation space at present for larger vehicles such as mini buses, which are mainly used for bringing school children to the site.

 

Where will the car park go?

  • The new car park is proposed on the western boundary of the park which was previously an area of mineral working/waste infill, parallel to the A10 park boundary.  This area is known as the arboretum. The new access route will be off Theobalds Lane, opposite the football club entrance. This location and the new access have been chosen in order to minimise the loss of existing trees and the impact on the SAM. 

 

Have other car parking and access options been considered?

 

A number of options have been considered including:

  • Access from the A10 or the Winston Churchill Way -  this is not deemed safe by Hertfordshire Highways.
  • Use of the road verge outside the park wall - this is not deemed safe by Hertfordshire Highways.
  • Use of the Cheshunt Football Club Car Park/land adjoining - the Football Club lease their site from the Council and although the lease recognises occasional use by park users, the club would not want to share their car park. The field next to the Football Club is understood to be owned by the County Council and leased to a local farmer. As well as the obvious legal/land ownership constraints associated with this, car parking on the northern side of Theobalds Lane would be less accessible for visitors to the park and would mean visitors having to cross Theobalds Lane to access the park, posing access constraints and safety concerns.

 

What is the Borough doing to encourage less car use?

  • Cycle and pedestrian access to Cedars Park has been improved through the new pedestrian route and crossing on Winston Churchill Way and the new Sustrans cycle link, including the Paul Cully Bridge over the A10.  Cycle racks will also be provided in the park for visitors.

 

What are the implications on commemorative trees in the arboretum?

  • The Council has recognised that the new access and car park will be sited within an area containing a proportion of the commemorative tree planting at Cedars Park and following consultation the Council has redesigned the car park to reduce the impact on commemorative trees. The new design has reduced the number of commemorative trees affected by almost two thirds.
  • Commemorative trees that are affected there will be lifted and relocated or replaced.
  • Overall, many more trees will be planted at Cedars Park than lost – approximately 2,500 are to be planted over the next three to four years, creating a new woodland at the south of the park.  The Council has a Forestry Commission English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) Contract/Licence for tree works and planting proposals within the park.

 

Is the ecology of the park at risk because of the developments?

 

The Council has been diligent concerning the conservation of important habitats, species protected by law or other species of conservation concern, and to highlight any areas of wildlife interest and constraints on development.  An ecology survey was carried out in 2010 to set this out. Key conclusions include:

  • Construction of the car park will have negligible impact on the area, although care will need to be taken to protect the more species diverse grassland around the edges of the area,
  • Construction of the new driveway will have minimal impact on the overall integrity of the woodland areas, although care will need to be taken to protect trees assessed as high bat roost potential.
  • With careful management, the opening up of some areas of woodland could enhance biodiversity by allowing more sunlight into the wood areas and encouraging greater biodiversity of ground flora.
  • No slow worms, stag beetles or potential bat roost trees were found within the area proposed for the new access. However, deadwood habitats will be created by the project across the park to encourage stag beetles and other wildlife.
  • Overall, with careful management, the landscaping work associated with the development of Cedars Park has the potential to enhance the biodiversity of the park.

 

What are you planning to do to the ponds? I have heard that you will be removing all fish?

  • At the moment the pond needs to be topped up with a significant quantity of mains water to keep the fish healthy.  The project aims to clean out the pond, dredge it and provide a borehole sustainable water supply for the park. A licence application has been made to the Environment Agency to relocate the fish stock to a fishery lake.  There are no plans to return fish to the pond after the works have been completed as the breeding of newts and toads will be encouraged instead.

 

Will the Pets Corner remain unchanged?

  • Yes, Pets Corner will remain unchanged as the aviaries were repaired and improved a few years ago.  A dovecote is planned for installation in the area. 

 

Will we be able to use the park whilst the improvements are being made?

  • The park will remain open throughout the works.  There may be some restrictions in certain locations when contractors/works are in hand on site but there will be signage on site to let everyone know.

 

Will the project change the character of the park?

 

Based on previous consultation/survey works the project has always recognised the importance of retaining the character and tranquillity of the park:

  • The current overflow car park area will be restored to quiet lawn/parkland.
  • A playbuilder project has commenced in the park, including landscape works to construct a turf maze, in the original Tudor palace maze design, a bocce court and a willow tunnel within the park. This area of the park has been underused by park users and has little character or value for park visitors.

 

Has any consultation been undertaken for the project?

  • Park user/visitor consultation, including survey work was undertaken when the project first started and was scoped in 2007/08. The park master plan was also consulted on through a direct mail initiative in 2008 and through subsequent local/park displays and park events and the Friends Group meetings during 2009 and 2010.
  • Earlier this year Friends Group meetings and information events were held to inform the public and following feedback on the car park design the Council has reviewed its proposals.  Information sharing in relation to this project will continue to be an ongoing process.
  • Updated information boards about the project will be in the park.
  • Friends Group meetings and information events will be promoted through the website and through direct mail to Friends.
  • The Council has established a project implementation working group to ensure the community is fully consulted on the details of the scheme so it can be taken forward in a sensitive way for the benefit of the whole community.

 

Why are some dog walkers concerned and how will the project consider the needs of local residents and park visitors in the future?

  • Some dog walkers are concerned that the new car park and access proposal will change or negatively affect their enjoyment of the park, and limit the opportunity to let dogs off the lead.  The current overflow car park is being returned to quiet parkland/lawn and counters the change of use for part of the arboretum area for car parking.  Access will always be available for dog owners although it may be advisable for them to put their dogs on a lead when in this area in future.
  • The Council has to consider the needs of all residents and currently the park is not easily accessible for a wide range of users including local school, community, youth and special needs groups due to car parking constraints. 
  • Furthermore, 66 per cent of park users (approximately 200,000 visits per annum) drive to the park, and improved parking as parking was the largest single complaint about the park in the 2007/08 visitor survey.

 

When will work commence?

  • Subject to planning permission being granted and a successful lottery bid outcome, capital work and outreach and activity services are likely to commence in 2012. 

 

Is the Council selling off part of Cedars Park?  Will it be used as a playing field or sports pitch?

  • The Council is not selling any part of Cedars Park, nor is the park to be used for sports playing pitches. The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge, a national programme being operated by Fields in Trust (FIT), is intended to provide long term protection for recreational spaces as a permanent legacy of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics next year. The existing covenants apply to only part of the park and the Council intends to grant FIT a legal interest in the land by way of a deed of covenant which will help ensure the park is safeguarded for the long term.  No existing covenant would be removed. FIT are well aware that the park is not a recreation ground or playing fields and of the historical nature as well as current use of the site, having visited it as well as seeing our current description of it. This transaction will not facilitate changing use to playing fields.