Reinstatement of the town's Gardens following use for events

Many people in Cheltenham are concerned about the impact of large organised events on the appearance and use of Montpellier Gardens and Imperial Gardens. These parks are very important not just to the appearance of the town centre but for local people to use and enjoy all year long.

The length of time the parks and gardens are used and the impact on the grass after an event has become increasingly controversial in the last few years. 

After the Jazz Festival this year the grass in parts of Montpellier Gardens seemed to be particularly badly affected. Council officers had the area drill seeded straight after the event finished - this is a mechanical operation which entails a slit being cut into the ground and the seed dropped directly in. It prevents it being eaten by pigeons and generally germinates better. It was thin for a little while after until the grass started to grow.

Most damage this year was caused to Montpellier Gardens by the the Food Festival in June because of rainfall and high foot traffic, and on this occasion a mixture of turf and drill seed was used. The Cheltenham Festivals tend to cause damage less from foot traffic and more from light depravation to the grass.

Moving forward, I understand that both the Jazz and Literature have reduced their footprint from last year. As a rule the parks officers work on the basis that they use turf to repair after the Literature Festival in October, and drill seed during Spring and Summer. There is a greater risk in summer of turf drying out and dying - although there was no risk of that this year as it turned out. 

In all cases, the event organisers have to foot the repair bill, and this is formally built into their land use agreement with the council. Turf repairs after the Literature Festival last year cost the organisers thousands of pounds.