Community left disappointed after 'mini park' removed by Warwickshire council...

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Community left disappointed after 'mini park' removed by Warwickshire council...

Postby dutchman » Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:03 pm

It was set up in a parking space

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A community in Warwickshire has been left disappointed after a much-loved ‘mini park’ in a parking space was removed after just six months by the council after ‘one complaint’.

Dad-of-two Adam Tranter, 31, who is the Bike Mayor in Coventry, set up a ‘parklet’ in a parking space on the high street in Kenilworth last year - but was forced to bid farewell to it after it was dismantled by Warwickshire County Council.

Adam, who runs a marketing agency with wife Aurélie Tranter, set up the ‘parklet’ in September in a bid to create ‘a bit more community space’ in his area and said it became a much-loved picnic spot before its removal last Thursday (April 8).

Adam said he was told by local residents that the county council acted on a single complaint that the parklet was taking up a parking space.

He described the removal of the parklet as a ‘big loss’ for their community but says he won’t give up on the parklet and is considering other options - including mounting a bench on the side of a truck before parking in the space.

Adam, who is originally from Coventry, said: “It was only small, but the parklet was a real gem of the town - everyone seemed to really appreciate it and it was good for local businesses too.

“Whenever I would pass it there would be people sat chatting on the benches, with a takeaway coffee.

"Taking away just one little parking space made hundreds of people happy, but it was also its downfall after someone decided it was better used for a car.

“We’re so used to looking for somewhere to park cars that we’ve forgotten what towns are supposed to be for - they should be places for friends to meet and have a chat, and the parklet facilitated that.

"It's a real loss for the community."

With the help of friends, Adam first set up the parklet in September last year after spotting the emerging ‘parklet’ trend on social media - and within days it had become a much-loved feature of Kenilworth high street.

The parklet featured grass, chairs and benches as well as flowerbeds and bunting - and became an increasingly popular hangout which was "always being used", including by himself and his own family.

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Re: Community left disappointed after 'mini park' removed by Warwickshire council...

Postby dutchman » Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:40 pm

Man uses his van to create tiny town centre park in Kenilworth

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A man with a van has created a tiny park on his vehicle after a previous attempt was removed because it was in a parking space.

Adam Tranter had previously created a "parklet" in High Street, Kenilworth but Warwickshire County Council took it away, he said.

He bought a small van and recreated the park, with a seat, in the same space.

He has a parking permit, he said, and wanted to prove a wider point about using public spaces in other ways.

People could enjoy the space for the community, he said.

The council has been contacted for a response.

"We've made something that's nice (in) the absence of much else... Our high streets are filled with car parking. It (fulfils) a purpose, but doesn't make them a nice place to sit and go to.

"I want to encourage them (the council) to see the opportunity to engage communities in repurposing local space."

To create the little park the Kenilworth resident said he bought a 1970s Piaggio Ape van off eBay.

He said he now had a residents parking permit in the van window that was "totally legit, issued by the council" after several residents offered permits for the vehicle.

He stated "the community really loved" the previous tiny park, but it was removed in April after lasting, to his "amazement", for six months.

Mr Tranter, CEO of communications company Fusion Media, is also the UK’s first city bicycle mayor, fulfilling the role for Coventry.

:bbc_news:


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