After much deliberation, and consultation with Hampshire Highways, a winner has finally been found for the Gateway to Gosport competition, launched last September in Gosport Borough Council’s magazine Coastline.
The aim of the competition was to find a design for the overgrown roundabouts near the magnificent Fort Brockhurst. It was hoped that designs submitted would not just be interesting and colourful, but would improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists. They also needed to reflect planting of a more sustainable nature to withstand the hotter drier summers that seem to be more prevalent these days.
“It was a long and difficult job choosing a winner because there were so many factors to be taken into consideration,” said Councillor Dennis Wright, Chairman of the Community and Environment Board at Gosport Borough Council. “Some of the designs were simply stunning, but the sort of structures they included would have run into tens of thousands of pounds, which sadly are completely outside of our capabilities budget wise. Then there was the safety aspect, things like not obscuring a driver’s vision and not putting in planting that will once again become overgrown, making the public feel intimidated at night – something that happens at the moment. It was for this very reason that we have consulted with Hampshire Highways every step of the way and why it was important we get the design right.”
Now with the discussions over the panel, made up of Members of the Grounds Maintenance Working Group, have agreed that the winners are:-
1st Prize - Steve Rogers of Rampart Row
2nd Prize - Nina Walsh of Green Crescent
3rd Prize - Mike Budden of Malvern Road
Winners were determined by the individual scoring by all judges.
Some parts of the winning design will need modification. Things like the tall spire will be changed to a mast and sail and the idea for the planting is to use varieties that would give the effect of a foaming sea. The design also calls for a boat and, the council would love to hear from any club or individual who perhaps has a boat they would like to donate, maybe one that is no longer sea worthy but could be used to great effect in the scheme.
The second place design was a seashore garden using rocks, pebbles and drift wood. This design is likely to include some strong architectural plants and a variety of native coastal plants, which require little water.
The third design contained some unique signage ideas which the panel hope to tie in to the other designs.
“The overall feel from the entries we received was that people wanted to see our great seaside and nautical background displayed at what is one of the busiest junctions we have in Gosport,” added Cllr Wright. “What we hope to do is to pull the best of all three designs together to produce a spectacular display that our residents can enjoy and that visitors will remember.”
The work, which will be done in three phases, will begin late summer or early autumn to ensure all nesting birds have left the site. Workers will then begin the job of removing all the existing overgrown planting.
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