Ice skating, Wi Fi and a youth pavilion are just a few of the ideas students from Marlborough and Francis Bacon secondary schools plan for the future development of Verulamium Park, St.Albans.

Using disposable cameras, the 22 sixth form and year nine students spent a morning in the park creating a photo survey of what they liked and what they thought could be improved. Issues and ideas were then explored in discussion groups.

Held in Local Democracy Week, the schools event is part of a wide-ranging public consultation on the future of the park culminating in a public exhibition on the master plan. This will be launched on Saturday 3 November at the Verulamium Museum foyer with opportunities to discuss the proposals from 12 noon until 7.30pm.

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Chair of the Verulamium Heritage Park Steering Group, Cllr Robert Donald, says: "The imaginative and innovative ideas expressed by the students will inform the park development plan, which will be used to bid for future funding. We are already making the park more attractive to young people with plans for ice skating this winter and we will listen to their ideas for more improvements over time."

Valued for its scenery, safety and heritage the park is enjoyed in the summer as a place to hang out with friends. Bonfire night and snowy days draw the young people back to enjoy the park’s winter landscape.

For the future, new attractions such as ice and roller-skating would be welcome together with play equipments designed for teenagers, such as an obstacle course. Special seasonal events, such as an Easter or May Day walk as well as the annual Albantide pilgrimage procession would encourage more visits all year round. While low cost food stalls, a Wi Fi area and youth pavilion would keep teenagers coming back.

Extra lighting, heritage style bins, more information, better toilets, new paths for cycling and walking and the removal of eyesores would all make the park a more inviting place.

Marlborough teacher, Nerys Fielden said: "The students have got an awful lot out of the day. They have enjoyed thinking about the future of the park and expressing their views on an important issue."

(GK/JM)