Eastfield Residents Urged to Vote for Community Park Plans

Residents of Eastfield are being urged to show support for proposals that could see the former Overdale school site transformed into a much-needed community park.

The newly formed Phoenix Community Park Charity, is hosting a drop-in event this Saturday, 22 November, at St George’s School to try and gain support for their proposals to turn the former Overdale School site into a community park. Organisers stress that demonstrating overwhelming public support is the final hurdle to securing £3 million ring-fenced funding and preventing the land from falling into the hands of housing developers.

The site, which has been derelict since 2021 and was hit by an arson attack in 2022, is currently undergoing demolition. Carol Smith, Secretary of the Phoenix Community Park Charity, warned that time is running out to commit the available capital before the land becomes vulnerable.

The £3 million ring-fenced money originates from the sale of local housing land and is currently held in abeyance by North Yorkshire Council from the former Scarborough Borough Council. Leading councillors are scheduled to discuss the allocation of the remaining unallocated funding (£3.2 million) on 16 December at a meeting where they will be updated on the historical agreement between Keepmoat developers and former Scarborough Borough Council, including the programme of capital receipts, and will be asked to provide "direction on the funding that remains unallocated".

Ms Smith says that the charity has been working tirelessly to meet the governance requirements necessary to take over the land.

The group is seeking an asset transfer from the local authority, requiring a robust business plan to prove their capability, according to Ms Smith:

"They've asked us to do a business plan to do an asset transfer. It will be one of their first asset transfers that they've done as a new council. So, we have to put a business plan together, which has been hard work. And we're trying to get that finalized.

And they have a certain criteria that we have to meet to to get the business plan accepted and to show that we're a capable charity that can run it and move it forwards.

Everybody needs to come and vote for it. To get it through, we need to show public support and we need We need people to come along, have a look at the plans, talk to us and vote for it".

A Vision for Unity

The charity's plans, which have been developed following extensive public consultations, environmental surveys, and a feasibility study, aim to address the severe lack of local amenities in the area.

The proposals include refurbishing the old nursery building to create a cafe and a community hub, which Ms Smith notes is desperately needed as "we have no pub in Eastfield, we have no cafe in Eastfield. There's no facilities whatsoever".

The site would also feature:

• Inclusive play areas
• A pump track
• Landscaped gardens
• A concrete skate park (requested via youth surveys)

The vision extends beyond recreational space; Ms Smith explained that the park is intended to bridge social gaps by uniting different parts of the community, hoping to create a through path that joins the new estates and the older estates.

Securing the Vote

The drop-in event at St George’s School, running from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, November 22, is the critical moment for local residents to cast their opinion. The event is backed by local schools and the police, whose representatives will be in attendance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to review the detailed plans, discuss the vision with trustees—including Chair Jim Bullock, treasurer John Dade, and Secretary Carol Smith—and cast their vote. Councillors from Eastfield Town Council have also been invited to see the plans and hear residents' views firsthand.

Ms Smith emphasised the importance of addressing any fears residents might have, particularly concerning the safety and management of the site:

"There'll be a voting box, yes or no. Put your token in. We'll count it up at the end. Hopefully, we'll have more yes than no votes cuz again, if people come along and they've got concerns about what's happening on there, come along and talk to us and we'll allay those concerns. Tell them that we're going to have going to have CCTV. We're going to have opening shutting times. We'll talk to them. Don't just sit and worry about it and think, I don't want it happening on my backyard. Come and talk to us. That's what it's all about.

And come and show your support because without their support, this will not move  forwards, It'll be dead in the water and we've been fighting for three years to get this done."

The Phoenix CIO spokesperson reinforced the message, stressing that public engagement is crucial:

“We’ve come this far, and now we need the wholehearted support of local residents to make it happen. Please come along to our drop in event and cast your vote because without you, it may become just another housing estate".

The charity is also seeking volunteers, specifically those with legal or management expertise, to join the trustee board, as well as individuals with building experience to oversee construction and refurbishment.

Related Stories

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• Plans To Create New Park On Derelict Scarborough School Site
• Plan for a New Eastfield Town Park is the ‘Biggest Thing Since Town was Built’
• Eastfield Residents Group Say Wheels Moving on New Skate Park