Give your views to help shape Keynsham Park for the future

Visitors to Keynsham Park are invited to have their say in a survey to inform how the park could be improved and developed in the future. 

Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with Keynsham Town Council to make improvements to Keynsham Memorial Park, Abbey Park and Chew Park, collectively known as Keynsham Park.

The first step in the project is to gather residents’ feedback about how they use the park now and what they would like to see provided in the long term. The survey is open until 5pm on April 29.

Information will be used to help shape an improvement plan for the park that meets the needs of the community, protects and enhances nature and attracts more visitors to Keynsham to support the local economy.

Residents are also invited to a drop-in session at the park on May 1 between 12pm and 3pm where they can discuss the improvement project with the parks team. Forest school craft activities will be on offer for children. 

In its budget for 2022/23, Bath & North East Somerset Council allocated £750k to replace Keynsham’s Memorial Bridge. The council expects to be in a position to share further information about the project in April 2022.

Councillor Jess David, cabinet assistant for Neighbourhood Services, said: “Keynsham Park is a beautiful community asset that is well used and much loved. However, we know there are things that residents and visitors would like to see improved, for example play area equipment that is nearing the end of its life and silt in the river above the weir.

“Through the survey we are gathering initial information about which areas you think are priorities for investment, and whether there are any other issues which impact your ability to use or enjoy the park. This will help build an improvement plan with specific proposals, which we’ll be asking for your views on later this year in a public consultation.

“The park improvement project is a long term scheme to build a park that’s fit for the future, can be enjoyed by people of all ages and supports people’s health and wellbeing. We are lucky to have species such as otters, kingfishers and Daubenton bats visiting the park so the improvements will need to enhance and protect nature too.”

Following the survey, responses will be analysed to identify the main priorities for improvement and any urgent issues that need to be addressed before the improvement plan is created.

Councillor Andy Wait, chair of Keynsham Town Council, said: “Keynsham Park is the green centre of Keynsham.  Its glorious selection of trees, play areas, the bandstand, cafe, historic and open spaces is the jewel in Keynsham's crown. Its tranquillity gives an alternative to our busy town centre. We now have the opportunity to make it even better or maybe not spoil it. Either way, it's important for us to let the authorities know what we think should change in this precious place.”