CIVIC officials are set to discuss a three year plan which includes expanding Upton Country Park into surrounding farmland.

Members of Borough of Poole's (BOP) overview and scrutiny committee are being asked to recommend the new Upton Country Park Forward Plan to the council's cabinet, which will convene at a later date.

The new forward plan, covering the period 2017-20, includes a number of "aspirations" for the 108-hectare country estate.

These include:

  • Enlarging the park, using new accessible areas of agricultural land.
  • Developing a Welcome Centre and a Wetland Centre
  • Extending and improving car parking facilities, enhance pathways.
  • Building new children's play facilities.
  • Increasing private bookings.
  • Programming a wider variety of cultural, historic, environmental and healthy activities.
  • Developing green energy solutions to reduce carbon emissions.

The document also includes the submission of a major capital bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund as a key priority for the next three years.

Under the 'Action Plan' attached to the document the council says it wants to make the park 'sef-sustainable' and hopes to stop paying the £200,000 subisdy it currently gives by 2022.

Last year BOP was criticised by many for ruling in favour of introducing car parking charges at the park, which is owned and managed by BOP and includes a 200-year-old Grade II* listed house.

Visitors will be charged between 50p and £3 during the winter season, and 80p to £4 in the summer season.

Among the car parking charge detractors was Cllr Sandra Moore, who urged the council to abandon its plans on behalf of The Friends of Upton Country Park.

However, Cllr John Rampton, cabinet member for environmental and consumer protection services, said implementing car parking charges would be positive for Upton Country Park.

"Car parking charges would be one of the tools they need to become a self-sustaining park," he said.

The report to BOP's overview and scrutiny committee, signed off by head of culture and community learning Kevin McErlane - and accompanying the forward plan - concludes: "The adoption and implementation of the Forward Plan 2017-20 presents the council with an exciting opportunity to continue to improve Poole's only country park for the benefit of residents of all ages."

The committee will meet at 6pm, January 17, at Poole's Civic Centre. You can read the forward plan here