Some Committee members met at the park today (Saturday 26th) to evaluate the paths after heavy rain, we had also been out in the heavy rain a few weeks prior to see exactly where the water collects. We have now identified less than half a dozen areas with only one area needing specific drainage investigation, the remainder of the path can be fixed with scraping back and re-topping with aggregate and whin.
The first hot spot is the area near the entrance to the park off Forest Drive Road which seems to hold the water to the extent it is impassable, most likely due to damage by tree roots to the drainage channels under the ground. This will need further investigation when raining to determine if soaking away slowly or if water is actually backing up from the drain into the park – this is near to the road gullies on Forest Drive Road which usually floods in heavy rain.
The next hot spot is at the entrance from Mill O Forest School however not as easy to extend the drainage there without considerable works. It may be an easier task to heighten the path somewhat with camber to allow water run off into the grass where it will drain away eventually. This is the same on some other small areas of the path where the top layer of whin dust has worn away and it is down to the aggregate beneath. This results in water sitting at the lower level and not running off as it should.
The other issue with the paths around the park is the overgrow either side by the grass which as time as gone on, encroached onto the path. We tested a small area and scraped back around 8 inches either side to reveal the original width of the path. This will also help define the path and return it to original width, suitable for buggies, wheel chairs, electric disability scooters etc enabling access for all in all weathers.
This will be a major task but possible with funding and assistance from the Friends of Forest Drive Park group to help plan and co-ordinate with an external groundwork company.
