Powis Square - Feedback on summer opening and closing times and dog use

We asked for your views on whether the summer opening and closing times at Powis Square should be amended during the summer months April to August, which could potentially help address noise disturbance being experienced by residents. With the aim of implementing any changes to the opening and closing times from April 2023.

We also asked for your views on dog access within Powis Square and how this should be managed, presenting six different options. Options 1 to 5 proposed ways dogs could be restricted from using the certain areas of Powis Square. Option 6 proposed keeping dog access to all areas of Powis Square. The aim of the feedback to implement the preferred option.

Survey responses 267

General

Who took part:  Adults 71 per cent, Parent or Career 34 per cent and children and young people 9 per cent.

How people use the square: A total of 43 per cent of respondents said they socialise in Powis Square, 33 per cent play in Powis Square, 31 per cent walk their dog in Powis Square, 12 per cent other and 11 per cent of respondents did not use Powis Square.

Summer opening and closing times.

Support of the revised opening and closing times of 8am to 8pm all respondents: A total of 52 per cent of all the respondents supported that opening and closing times remaining the same, 34 per cent supported the revised opening and closing times and 15 per cent requested different opening and closing times.

Support of revised opening and closing times of 8am to 8pm post code mapped to reflect responses from resident bordering the square, most affected by the noise:  A total of 43 per cent of respondents supported the opening and closing times remaining the same. However, a combined total of 57 per cent of residents living closest to the park supported the revised opening and closing times  (24 per cent of respondents) or wanted different opening and closing times (33 per cent of respondents).

Dog Access in Powis Square

Six potential options on how dog access should be managed in Powis Square were presented: A total of 29 per cent of all respondents supported option 1 - A fenced and planted dog area along the west side of the square. When broken down by postcodes of residents bordering the park, option 1 was also the most selected option with 32 per cent.

The second most preferred option was option 6 – dog access to all areas of Powis Square with a total of 20 per cent of respondents supporting this option, when analysed by postcodes bordering the park option 6 was also 2^nd place with 20 per cent of respondents supporting this option.

Option 3- The children’s play area and ball court fenced was supported by 17 per cent of all respondents.

Option 4- The children’s play area fenced to prevent dogs accessing was supported by 17 per cent of all respondents.

Option 2- A fenced dog area along the Talbot Road end of the ball court was supported by 8 per cent of all respondents.

Option 5- Dogs on Leads only – was supported by 7 per cent of all respondents.

Summer Opening and Closing Times

The results have been analysed  and reviewed taking into consideration the postcodes of the residents bordering the park who are most affected by the noise. 57 per cent of residents living closest to the park either supported the revised opening and closing times of 8am to 8pm or requested something different.

Taking this into consideration and to help mitigate the noise experienced by residents.

The revised opening and closing times of 8am to 8pm will be implemented from April 2023 for a trial period of 2 years.

Dog Access

Almost 80 per cent of all respondents supported some kind dog access control measures with in Powis Square by selecting options 1 to 5. The preferred option by all respondents and those directly bordering the Square was Option 1 A fenced and dedicated dog area along the west side of the Square.

Therefore option 1 will be implemented, it is intended that the work will take place over the summer. This will be for a trial period of 2 years.