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Survey gives thumbs up for town green plan for Sawbridgeworth with new name set as Jubilee Gardens




A plan for a town green in Sawbridgeworth has been given the thumbs up by the community after the results of a survey were released.

Sawbridgeworth Town Council has been discussing developing the land off Bell Street into a community space for several years, but after carrying out the survey the plan is beginning to move forward.

And one of the decisions that has come out of the exercise has been the naming of the area as Jubilee Gardens after respondents to the survey favoured the royal theme.

Joanne Sargant. left, with town clerk Chris Hunt and Cllr Ruth Buckmaster (58641306)
Joanne Sargant. left, with town clerk Chris Hunt and Cllr Ruth Buckmaster (58641306)

As the area was once the garden for a house named The Elms those surveyed were asked if that historical fact was important, to which there was a definite ‘no’ with people liking the idea of a jubilee theme with this year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations still fresh in their minds.

More than 200 of the respondents voted for either Jubilee Gardens or Jubilee Green with Elm Green garnering 178 votes. Other suggestions were Town Green, Town Garden and Town Community Garden.

The scheme itself was given a huge thumbs up with 98% believing it is important to have an open space for the community.

Litter picking and plant maintenance were major factors in getting the community involved in the space and community events and gardening were what most wanted to see the area used for. Community group meetings and gardening clubs were also popular choices.

Suggestions to ensure it would be a quality green area included bee friendly flowers, bird feeding stations, hedgehog homes and bug hotels.

Benches, lighting and pathways were important to respondents.

The biggest age range of the 610 people who took part in the survey was between 45 to 54, with 35 to 44 second.

An analysis of the survey revealed more positive comments than negative. Some of the concerns were around dog mess and vandalism and one respondent wanted the area left wild.

Town projects manager Joanne Sargant said she was pleased with the results of the survey, which endorsed the town council’s vision.

She said the town council had done their best to include every resident by producing paper copies of the survey, as well as an online version.

“What was generally felt was that it would be a place for contemplation,” said Joanne, who added the importance of having such a space was brought home during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

“We very much feel we want to have a community garden feel to the area with raised beds.”

She also stressed the importance of keeping the Millennium Maze on the site.

A working party comprising councillors and members of the public, including from youth groups and schools, has been driving the project forward.

The next step is to find landscape designers and present them with the results of the survey, before producing a business plan for East Herts Council, who will fund it.



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