Local wildlife pond transformed thanks to money raised from developers
On Saturday (1 October) the wildlife pond at Claremont Gardens, in Surbiton, was reopened following a restoration project using money collected from new development.
The pond has been reshaped and relined with a much longer lasting self-healing liner and replanted with water-loving plants. A dipping platform made of recycled plastic has also been installed where children will be able to learn more about the wildlife living and growing in the pond.
Funding for this project has come from a portion of a charge called the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which the council collects from developers on qualifying developments. This portion, known as Neighbourhood CIL (or NCIL), is designed to be allocated by councillors of each of the four Neighbourhoods (Kingston & North Kingston, New & Old Malden, Surbiton and South of the Borough) to help deliver projects and priorities in their local areas.
This week the council has started to invite local community groups, residents’ associations, registered charities, infrastructure providers and charities, to suggest which projects could be funded by NCIL in the 2022 bidding round. Projects can be put forward using a form on the council's Let’s Talk engagement portal until midnight on 30 November 2022.
The NCIL funding is designed to support local, community-based infrastructure projects ranging from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands of pounds, where funds are available.
Other projects from across the borough that have previously benefited from the funding include bringing the disused pavilions on Kingston Road Recreation Ground back into use and improvements at Latchmere Recreation Ground in Kingston, replacing the boardwalk at Six Acre Meadow in Tolworth, improving the Manor Park children’s playground, in New Malden and a new pathway for the park at Woodview, in Chessington.
Chairs from the four Neighbourhood Committees, Councillor Alison Holt, Councillor Olly Wehring, Councillor Lesley Heap and Councillor Helen Grocott said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to improve local infrastructure and for our neighbourhoods to truly benefit from development taking place in their area. We are already seeing what a difference previously successful projects can make in their local communities.
“We want to encourage community groups to consider applying for funding for projects that will support their local area. It doesn’t have to be a massive project, the smaller projects are just as important as the larger schemes.”
The Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Yogan Yoganathan, and other members of the community were at Saturday’s pond opening event.
Elliot Newton, Kingston Council’s biodiversity officer, said:
“It is wonderful that funding is being put toward supporting and enhancing the ecological value of our parks. By restoring the pond at Claremont Gardens, the park is now able to support a greater abundance of biodiversity and demonstrates how our parks are essential for both local people and our wildlife.”
Decisions on projects that receive the NCIL funding will be made by local councillors at Neighbourhood Committee meetings early next year. More information about the NCIL funding opportunity and the criteria that projects need to meet can be found at www.kingstonletstalk.co.uk/ncil.
A further opportunity for bids will also open in mid 2023.