Community Gazebo

Published: 20 January 2025

The Shelter in Cheswick Green Recreation Ground

The shelter (Shack), located in Cheswick Green Recreation Ground, was inherited by Cheswick Green Parish Council in 2009. It was originally installed by the former Hockley Heath Parish Council around 2002. Over the years, the shelter has suffered from vandalism and fire damage, requiring significant repairs, including £2855 for renovations in 2011 and £770 for fire damage repairs in June 2012 as well as £350 in July 2023 after an act of vandalism meant further funds were spent to repair it.

The Parish Council consulted with the Jay family in February 2018, agreeing to place a bench on the Recreation Ground in memory of Charlie Jay. The family also wished to have the shelter repaired using donations, and this was initially agreed upon.

Since 2020, the shelter has experienced timber decay, with parts becoming rotten, damaged, and missing. The most recent (2024) annual inspection by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) deemed the shelter high risk and advised the Parish Council to put it out of use.

Due to its wooden construction and location on ground that frequently floods, the shelter has continued to deteriorate. Four out of the six main structural posts were rotten, which made repair unviable. To do so would have caused further damage and the cost did not outweigh the benefits for all.

Despite differing opinions within the community, the Parish Council must prioritise safety. The current shelter posed a health and safety risk, and due to repeated access attempts delaying its removal could have led to accidents as advised by RoSPA.

Consequently, the Parish Council has removed the existing shelter and is intending to replace it with an alternative structure within the Recreation Ground.

The Parish Council intends to consult with all residents to determine the preferred type of new shelter. It is important to note that the Recreation Ground is a communal space for all residents to enjoy and cannot serve as a private memorial or chapel.

The new structure will ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all residents. Once the Parish Council have a consultation process in place, ALL residents of our parish will be notified.