Community Focus Group (8th April 2025)

The second meeting of Darwin Green’s Community Focus Group took place on 8th April 2025 at the Community Rooms, gathering representatives from the Community Team from the Council, and Darwin Green residents.

Please keep in mind that these are the notes from attendees. They may be incomplete, inaccurate.

Generic updates

There have been many changes on the Council’s side, and in particular, some people from the Community team are moving. Steph will work on another area of the city, she will be replaced by Julian. Sue keeps working with Darwin Green.

Items from last meeting

• “English as a second language” sessions at the library (once the library opens): Steph passed the info to the library, the library is keen, but would need a volunteer (or someone paid) to organise it.
• Community Forum format: The Community Forums should be hybrid from now on (physical and online attendance). Should we do the same for the Community Focus meetings? Would there be any interest from residents?
• Funding options for the residents association: Steph sent an email to the association’s address, but is unsure anyone received it.
• Lights on the Greenway: Community team reported the broken lights, but is unsure whether they’ve been fixed?
• Electricity on Plaza: No news since Community Forum
• Neighbourhood Watch: The association couldn’t attend tonight but if there’s an interest, we could arrange for them to come and chat, and present how the system works.

Door-knocking retrospective

• Door-knocking in Darwin Green, Franklin’s Gardens, Evolution Court
• Franklin Gardens haven’t had any community event but had some Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
• Most questions are on commercial units, charges, …
• No particular questions on “we need this or that”, so nothing obvious is missing in the area
• Parking signage: No parking on site at all other than in the bays. Reportedly, signage has been improved.
• If no signage, roads might be used for parking once they are adopted by Council, if there’s no double lines along the pavement by then.
• CCTV on Greenway: no update, to follow-up with Barratt

Summer events

• There should be two holiday lunches in summer (to be confirmed).
• Opening of a new section of the Central Park
  • Date currently unknown. Should be “summer”, but estimates in Darwin Green have often been optimistic.
  • There should be an event at Pavilion, when the new section opens.
  • Tennis court should be free to play; likely to be opened at same time as Pavilion
  • Football pitches may require more time, for the grass to settle in? Although Barratt said they should open at the same time at the Community Forum, so hopefully they’ll open too.
• We discussed the possibility to organise summer events on the Plaza
  • Somewhat similar in spirit to the Christmas event: have people eat and meet
  • Likely in conjunction with food trucks: get some tables outside to have people stay and chat
  • Maybe some music?
  • Nothing confirmed yet.

Drop-ins at the Community Rooms:

• Residents asked whether there would be a chance to drop-in and work and/or meet in the Community Rooms.
  • Steph asked about having the space for free for maybe once a week, say Thursday morning; now waiting for reply
  • If not for free, how much would it cost?
• Drop-ins with John (Planning Enforcement Officer) are successful, although they’re mostly attended by Windsor Road residents who concerned about how the plans are being followed.

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