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Area eleven
(5 & 6)
Visitors
Romsey
and
District
Society
contact
Phoebe Merrick
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Look at Romsey
Town Design Statement for Romsey
Woodley and Ganger
Prepared by a team of volunteers in the area under the auspices of the
Romsey and District Society.
Open and Other Spaces
| This part of Romsey has very little public open space within its boundaries.
There is a small open space to the north of Woodley Village Hall. This is an area of grass that contains some shrubs. The Hall itself has an ample car park which provides a further open space, albeit covered with tarmac and the Hunters Inn has its own car park behind which is a garden with amenities for patrons. |
The Green by Woodley Village Hall
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Open space in Ganger Road
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There are grass areas in the fronts of terraces on the west side of Ganger Road, each labelled ‘No ball games’. Since they are small and close to the houses this restriction makes sense. There are also small areas of grass at the eastern ends of Footner Close, Anderson Close and Norris Close and at the northern end of Hunters Crescent. |
| There is some grass at the junction of Ganger Farm Lane and the entrance to Woodley Close. At the other end of Woodley Close, just outside this area, there is an informal playing field, although there is no longer a playground there. There are a few small grass areas within Woodley Close. |
Recreation Ground in Woodley Close
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Design Recommendations
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There is need for play facilities for younger children near their homes. |
Trees/Hedges, Walls and Fences
| The older roads contain a number of mature trees and there are copses on the eastern side of the area. There are the remains of a long-established hedgerow outside Woodley Village Hall and the adjacent green, and in places individual plants have grown into full-sized trees. The most common trees in this area are oak and pine, but there are some unusual trees in private gardens. Sadly the splendid cedar at Cedar Lawn died and had to be cut down. |
Trees and hedge at Woodley Village Hall
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Recent plantings at Footner Close
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Saplings have been planted at the end of Footner Close and these will enhance the area as they grow. There is a serious shortage of trees along Ganger Road and Hunters Crescent. In particular the fairly stark view along Ganger Road would be softened by the inclusion of suitable trees. |
| The contrast between the houses in the triangle and along School Road, with hedges and trees, and much of the rest of Woodley and Ganger where houses, garages and vehicles predominate is very marked. The areas where there are terraced houses could do with enhancement. On the edge of a market town, a hint of garden suburb would be appropriate, rather than the feeling of a large car park. |
Ganger road with few trees
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Brick wall in Braishfield Road
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Although many of them are tall, there is a pleasant mix of hedges and walls along Braishfield Road on the triangle, including a wall that appears to be made of brick on edge and is very unusual. The fences and hedges along School Road are a mature mix of fences and hedges that give the road a rural feel. |
| There are some very good hedges in private ownership, especially the beech hedges in Braishfield Road and Cedar Lawn. Further along Braishfield Road there are hedges separating it from Woodley Way.
Within Woodley Close, a number of houses towards the entrance are surrounded by very high hedges. Some of these encroach on the footpath and in places they are so high that they overwhelm their surroundings. |
Beech hedges in Cedar Lawn
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There are a number of privately owned hedges in the gardens around Hunters Crescent. Some of these are well maintained and improve the area. However where they have been allowed to spread over the footpath, they can be a nuisance.
Fence along Winchester Road
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Design Recommendations
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Consider if another cedar could be planted in the Cedar Lawn area. |
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Hedgerows should be properly maintained at heights suitable to their surroundings. |
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Encourage owners of highly visible and open urban land to soften the effect with plants, trees or shrubs.. |
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