gipton wood 2050 consultation response

At our AGM, Friends of Gipton Wood reviewed the feedback from the Gipton Wood 2050 consultation and determined our response.

There were four areas of concern raised during the consultation and these were the elements that the AGM considered responses to.

First, there was a concern expressed that the plans were too focused on infrastructure and not enough on nature. Those expressing these concerns particularly mentioned their enjoyment of plants growing right up to the paths. The AGM agreed that actually nature is at the heart of these proposals – currently paths are getting wider, cutting into the native wildflowers. Better surfaced paths will prevent this, meaning that more flowers and nature will be able to get up close to the paths – indeed the paths which have plants and flowers closest to them are the tarmac paths because no one ever has to skirt off them to avoid any mud. Tree works proposed are also about improving the age diversity and canopy structure of the Wood to improve its health and regeneration.

Second, there was some feedback on the entrances and access controls. A suggestion was made that the proposed new entrance at the bottom corner of Oakwood Boundary Road (next to Rico’s) should exit both onto that road and Roundhay Road to give exit directly onto the pavement. This was heartily supported by the AGM and agreed to be adopted. There were some concerns about accessibility, and the AGM was content that the designs provided by Leeds City Council meet all accessibility requirements. There was some concern expressed about the aesthetic of the proposed chicane design. The AGM agreed that more architectural designs should be explored, and colour used to blend metalwork into the woodland background.

Finally, there was discussion about the potential increase of anti-social noise or behaviour. It was clarified that the bench near the exit out to Oakwood Boundary Road/the Nook would only be being moved by a matter of feet to the edge of the resurfaced path rather than metres up the path closer to the houses. Discussion was had about the proposed seating around the ‘plaza’ at the green arch entrance off Gipton Wood Road and it was agreed that this seating would be removed from the design.

These adjustments are all listed in full on the Gipton Wood 2050 page of this website.

We are now finalising these plans with the Council and seeking funding to implement them.