Marple Recreation Ground

[amazon]

The idea of the swimming pool moving to the rec is a good idea. I'm not a fan of it being in a new building in the park incorporating the library because the building will need to be much bigger than it is now, plus car parking would be an issue. Although the pool on the rec would probably have the same problems. There is so much green space in Marple, such as this and also the field where the college was, that just seem to be abandoned, unused and unloved. The green at Hawk Green in comparison seems to be well used and enjoyed by many people.

Dont think so not good idea .

[royal_marple]

The idea of the swimming pool moving to the rec is a good idea. I'm not a fan of it being in a new building in the park incorporating the library because the building will need to be much bigger than it is now, plus car parking would be an issue. Although the pool on the rec would probably have the same problems. There is so much green space in Marple, such as this and also the field where the college was, that just seem to be abandoned, unused and unloved. The green at Hawk Green in comparison seems to be well used and enjoyed by many people.

[GM]

You could argue that the original Hollins Mill arm of the canal, the section which runs behind the cinema could be dug out and reopened for something similar and closer to the centre of the village.

Maybe contour the park down to the edge of the tow-path, the park could benefit from it as well as its an unused area mostly for dogs.

In regards to the Rec, the canal did actually run on its own private arm on the side where the houses have been built along Strines. The old maps aren't very detailed, but show it leading up to one of the building used for loading with a tramway between the kiln works to facilitate loading lime onto barges.

The whole thing might have been in a pretty deep culvert with the raised road acting as the retaining wall embankment.

Whilst the idea for the Rec isn't a bad idea, the swimming pool would be a better use of the space if they can't decided to sort out the library plans. As for expanding the canal onto the Rec, it would just spread out the already limited trade for small local businesses within the village centre.

[admin]

Welcome to the forum @royal_marple and some interesting questions there.

The Recreation Ground is protected by covenants created when it was given to the community by Walter Bright Hodgkinson 111 years ago.

The covenants protect it from non-recreational use, which is why converting the toilets to a barbers wasn't allowed.

The land is lower than the canal, so it would not be viable to extend the canal into that area, even if the money and the will was there.

The possible best use for this land (in my view) would be for a new swimming pool and fitness centre. That would be recreational but I don't know if it would satisfy the covenants.

There will be a new canal side venue at Marple Wharf when the "Wharf Marple" project is finished, and there is also the Servicemen's Club next to the marina, but you are right, we do not make as much of the canal location as we perhaps could. Wharf Marple is definitely a step in the right direction.
 

[royal_marple]

Just wondered if there were any plans for the long term future of Marple rec? It used to be well used but now it has the appearance of unused wasteland which is a shame. I read that there was an application to turn the toilets into a barbers which was rejected.

How feasible would it be to extend the canal, via the blocked up tunnel, with a new arm to the recreation ground? It could be surrounded by shops and cafes. Apart from the Ring O'Bells, there are no canalside venues in Marple at all.