ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – ENHANCEMENTS AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE – Wednesday, 4^th February 2026

A meeting of the Enhancements and Preservation Committee was held on Wednesday 4^th February 2026 at Eccleshall Community Centre, after the Planning Committee meeting, at 7.40pm.

  Present were:-

Councillor S. Perren (Chairman)         Councillor G. Dale

Councillor D. Hill                                     Councillor C. Wilkins

Councillor R. Taylor                                Councillor R. Langford

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public

 1).    Apologies:-

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Jones, Hall, Reid and Ryan-Bloor.

2).    Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 3^rd December 2025:-

The minutes, which had previously been noted by the Council, were agreed and signed.

3).   Asset inspections:-

• There are no updates to report. This year’s inspection sheets will be circulated at the next meeting.

4).   Croxton Play area and Outdoor Gyms:

• Inspection Reports:

The committee received the operational report for Croxton play area. The area was classed as low risk, with some minor issues identified. The issues and actions to undertake are as follows and the Clerk will arrange as required:

• Replace minor missing bolt caps
• Painting of small areas on multiplay equipment
• Schedule a jet wash for later in the spring
• Consider soil infill of some areas between grass and wetpour edging.

The annual inspection is due shortly for Croxton and the outdoor gym spaces.

5).   Biodiversity Enhancements:

• The next meeting will be held on the 23^rd February at 6.30pm.
• The Lavender plant voucher scheme is progressing to plan. The vouchers will be sent to print this week for distribution from w/c 16^th Feb to the Scouts, the children taking part in the library half term events, and to library users. There is a start and end date to the vouchers (from early March) and plants will be handed out on a first come first served basis. The scheme will be featured in a 2-week library window display focussing on ‘Nature at Home’ and ways that people can support nature in their own gardens.
• The group will consider bird/bat box locations and advise the Clerk of any purchases to make within the budget allocation, so that they can be erected prior to the breeding season. Areas considered include Copmere picnic site, Eyeswell and the Community Centre.

6).   Beech Road Community Park:

• It was resolved to approve the quotation of £400 from Squirrel Fencing for repairs to the perimeter fence adjacent to neighbouring houses, to prevent access to private gardens from the park.
• The bike rack was ordered in December but has a long manufacture lead time, so it has not yet been received.
• The Clerk will be arranging site meetings with contacts provided who may be interested in building garden planters for the sensory spaces and will update accordingly. Members discussed ideas for planting and noted that the area by M&S in Stone had planting that would be worth looking into.
• The committee received the operational inspection report for the park, which was identified as a low risk. The self-closing mechanism on the gate to the Southwell estate is outside of the ideal specification, and the committee agreed to undertake necessary rectification work.

7).   Other Planting:

• Columnar Cherry Tree, Stone Road – this is awaiting stock at Johnson nursery and needs to be planted when the ground is not too waterlogged.
• Japanese Cherry Tree planting project.
  • Two bare root trees have been allocated to the Council and are currently stored in compost with Cllr. Perren. Planting is required at the earliest opportunity. Key planting requirements are for the trees to have around 1.5 metres of space around them, with 7 metres between the trees, sited in a sheltered location with a sunny aspect and free draining soil. Supplementary watering will be required until established. It was resolved to plant the trees on the Jubilee Field. Members of the Allotments Association have kindly agreed to help with the planting. Cllr. Perren will meet with them to progress this.
  • It was resolved to purchase suitable tree guards to protect from wildlife and footballs. If a square metre of bare soil is left, Cllr. Langford will arrange for a square border to be laid, and the area can be filled with bark, so that there is no need to mow/strim close to the trees.
  • A suitable commemorative plaque will be arranged in due course.

8).   Elford Heath:

• The Clerk has requested a quotation for a tree survey of the area and is awaiting the cost.
• Residents have reported incidences of antisocial behaviour in the evening around the car park area. The Clerk has liaised with the PCSO team who have undertaken regular patrols of the area and plan to install warning signs. They have not yet seen any instances of problem behaviour but have requested residents report any further issues directly to the police on 101 so this can be logged and officers can liaise directly with the residents. Patrols will be ongoing.

10).  Lengthsman Scheme

Any requests can be passed to the Clerk for consideration.

11). Correspondence:

• There was no correspondence to receive.

12).  Items for next meeting:-

Any items for consideration to be sent to the Clerk.

13).  Date of Next Meeting:-

April 1^st, 2026, following the Planning Committee meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.30pm.