A “secluded” green space is set to undergo a £260,000 makeover in a bid to “design out anti-social behaviour” and encourage the community to use it again.
Landscaping works to improve St Andrew’s Gardens, in Gravesend town centre, are expected to start at the end of the year once a contractor has been found.
A report, discussed at the council’s cabinet meeting on Monday (September 30), stressed the importance of improving and increasing the use of the riverside gardens to support nearby developments like the Charter and St George’s Square.
It said: “Members will be aware that the upper level of St Andrew’s Gardens, in particular, is not providing the accessible and welcoming green space it should.
“With relatively recent instances of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and prominence of tents, continuing to deter the local community from using the space.”
The upper part of St Andrew’s Gardens, behind the Queen Elizabeth II statute, has been described as “secluded” amid concerns people do not feel safe.
The local authority wants to create a more open and usable space which will “design out anti-social behaviour”.
Speaking at the meeting, cabinet member for operational services, Cllr Emma Morley, whose role is responsible for the gardens, welcomed the scheme.
She said: “It is really great but we need to make sure that the anti-social behaviour goes from the area.
“I think welcoming people down, making it more appealing, and making it a nicer, brighter area will hopefully see all that off.”
Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox agreed. He added: “I think it is important that we design out the anti-social behaviour from the start.
“I think it is no good just designing something to make it look nice, it has to have a functional element to it as well.
“By making this a very proactive design I think will be welcomed by the community.”
The project will see more trees, shrubs and lawns planted and upgrades to the path surfaces, garden edgings and steps to make it more accessible.
Seating is also going to be introduced as part of the proposals, drawn up by landscape architects Hyland Edgar Driver.
Cllr Deborah Croxton, who is the new cabinet member for community and leisure, added: “By opening up the space it is going to encourage more footfall and therefore it will deter anti-social behaviour.
“It is not going to be a place where they [people engaging in ASB] are going to want to hang out.”
Members decided to approve the £260,570 improvement scheme and asked council officers to begin looking for a company to deliver it.
It is hoped a contractor will be appointed by the end of the year with a start date soon after or by early 2025.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Morley added: “St Andrew’s Gardens is Gravesend’s gateway to the riverside, and is an underused public space that could and should be so much more of an area our community can enjoy.
“Trees and vegetation create areas where anti-social behaviour has become a problem, shielding activities from general view and deterring families and individuals from visiting the gardens.
“Our plans will help open the space up through reshaping existing trees, and more creative planting and landscaping, which will also improve access for all and re-establish the gardens’ role in connecting the town to the Thames.”
The project will be paid for by section 106 money from The Charter development which was received in June 2021.
Initially, £285,260 was allocated to the scheme but £24,700 was used to engage the architects, leaving £260,570 for the works.
However, the council has said if Levelling Up funds become available it could consider using them to cover the costs or for more enhancements.
Officers also said they are speaking with the team behind the controversial Lower Thames Crossing road link regarding funding for the town centre and although not confirmed, it could also provide further scope.
The project, which would see a tunnel beneath the Thames linking land east of Gravesend to Essex, has been heavily supported by Kent’s business community which believes it will be key to enhancing transport links with the rest of the country.
