Fordbridge Park Restoration: Update

Spelthorne Borough Council has issued another update on the restoration of Fordbridge Park in Ashford following the work undertaken by Esso last year to install a replacement fuel pipeline.

The Council has been working with Esso to ensure the areas of the park which were affected by the pipeline work are reinstated in line with the agreement between the two parties, and local councillors also recently met with residents from Friends of Fordbridge Park to discuss the progress.  

Work that has been carried out recently includes the application of topsoil and seeding near the perimeter hedging, a survey has been conducted to identify tree health, water pipe maintenance which has confirmed no burst pipe and soil compacting work in the affected areas. Despite recent bad weather, which has caused surface water affecting the paths, like in many of our parks, and a delay to the schedule, grass reseeding has now taken place which will need time to embed and level. Over the next few weeks 18 semi-mature trees will be planted in the coming weeks to replace less healthy ones and the trees that were removed by Esso. The Council’s Neighbourhood Services Team will be removing a concrete block that is still situated in the park and undertaking regular checks on the park and paths.

Fordbridge Park has also become the new home for a ‘talking bench‘ donated by the Samaritans to encourage people to take some time out of their day to sit and have a chat. Inscribed on the bench are the words ‘it’s good to talk, better to listen’.