Inclusive Action Group
Meeting
3
Site visit: Manor Deep Pits
We were given an inspiring tour of the Deep Pits park by Liz Neild-Banks,
Development Manager. Liz charted the history of the area; from the
medieval hunting park to its later coal mining activity which gave the
area its
name.
The site is set for a further exciting incarnation as a community generated
public open space. Looking over the 25 hectares of rough grassland and
scrubby woodland loud with birdsong, the sheer scale of this enterprise
is clear.
With this scale of activity, and in a location surrounded by both new
housing and older more established communities, it was essential that
the people of the area were fundamentally involved with the planning,
design & management of Deep Pits. To this end the community development
team lead by Sheffield City Council officer Roger Nowell have developed
a program of consultation and activities aimed at engaging all sectors
of the population with the site. This activity has focused on raising
awareness of the possibilities presented by Deep Pits for public enjoyment,
play, amenity and recreation on their very door steps.
 Liz described how the City Council’s original strategic masterplan
for the site had been used as a flexible planning document. Groups from
within the community had responded through workshops, questionnaires
planning for real and collaborations with arts professionals and other
forums to inform the plan with detail. This has helped to bring a unique
personality to the nature of the new Deep Pits as it gradually evolves
on site. Crucially, this reflects how development is occurring in a manner
directly responsive to the user communities needs, within a balanced
overall framework.
The IAG group was shown the new play mounds area with its stunning dry
stone and metal sculpture boundary which represent the latest fruits
of this programme of work.
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