Wolverton's Historic Sports Venue Wolverton Park has been selected as a site for redevelopment/regeneration, plans include new canalside housing, transforming the former royal rain shed into housing and turning the sports field into a public garden. A public meeting took place on 16th February 2006 for the presentation and discussion of the plans.
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• Event: Wolverton Park Redevelopment Public Meeting
• Venue: Wyvern First School, Aylesbury Street, Wolverton
• Date: Thursday 16th February 2006 7:00PM

• Presentation by the developers - The Places for People Group
• Style of Proposed Housing
• Planning Appliction
• Future of the Historic Timber Grandstand

Wolverton Park, despite it's name and the fact that the primary area known locally as Wolverton Park (the Park) is mostly covered in green grass and trees, has been grouped in with some of the redundant railway works buildings nearby and designated as a brownfield site.
Organisations have been set the task of drawing up plans to transform the site into a new residential development. A mixture of one, two and three bedroom multi-floor apartments are to be built around the north end of the site (bowling green end) including some canalside residences. The former royal train shed is also proposed to be converted into a housing with a line of 'townhouses' facing an internal street. Across the canal there are further railway buildings, most recently used as a publishers warehouse, known as triangular building. These buildings, which were never part of Wolverton Park, have been included in the scheme. Presumably to allow the site to be treated as brown field. The triangular building and adjacent reading room are to be developed for accommodation and other purposes.

The meeting was held in the main hall of Wyvern school which was quickly filled, all seating was occupied and a large number of people stood in the remaining space and back along the corridor leading from the entrance.

The proposed development was shown as a slide show and short film. The content was information already distributed elsewere, showing the redevelopment of the derelict railway premises without significant alteration to the outer facades. The new building on the north (bowling green) end of the site was proposed as a modern building of angles and balconies, perhaps something of an architectural indulgence.















The new building could be as high as eight storeys including a basement level car park. A Multi-level car park building is proposed to run alongside the mail railway line, acting as a noise screen. Wolvertons historic sports field is to be retained for leisure use, with a small section of the cycle track preserved, although artwork indicated landscaping that would preclude sporting use.

When the meeting was opened to questions and discussion, it was the new building that drew the most comment. The assembled public voiced concern about the new building, ranging from complete opposition through to distaste for the type and colour of the materials used. More than one voice was heard to say that "this is Wolverton not Milton Keynes". It seemed tht despite the previous steering group consultations, the proposed architecture was somewhat off target with regard to the new building.

The meeting seemed to be a particularly uncomfortable one for the representatives of The Places for People Group, who at one point admitted that they had not seen an attendance of this size for a public meeting about this type of development. Great credit to the people of Wolverton for turning up in such numbers and standing up for their town.

The Grandstand and the Three Rs

The discussion about the new development had taken until after 9PM, with the venue available only until 9:30. A short discussion regarding the timber grandstand was held, with people encouraged to vote on three options for the future of the historical building (removal, relocation or restoration). Some opinions were heard and opposing feelings expressed. One speaker from The Places for People Group promised to present some unbiased facts and then preceded to reel off a string of negatives, omitting the historical significance and the national interest and the whilst attempting to deny the listed status (by way of attachment to the adjacent structures). The result of the ballot is as the time of writing undisclosed.

How delightful that The Places for People Group have heard of the Whitsun sports.