Councillors have questioned the accessibility of a 250-page plan for the future of Abbey Fields, asking whether residents will be able to actually get any benefit from it.

Kenilworth locals were given a first glimpse at the much-delayed Abbey Fields Management Plan this week, which sets out how the park will be looked after for the next 10 years.

Including details from tree management to a new cycle path, the document also includes feedback from the public through a consultation held four years ago.

But with the executive summary still standing at 58 pages, councillors at Warwick District Council have questioned how residents are expected to get anything from the plan.

The executive summary of the Abbey Fields Management Plan is still over 50 pages (image via Warwick District Council)

"I think the first comment is to say 'at last' - we have been waiting for this for a long time," said Cllr Andrew Milton at last night's (September 20) cabinet meeting. 

"Whilst we can sound slightly flippant about this, I think it is a concern that it has taken quite so long to produce this plan. 

"Broadly we welcome the report, it is very thorough and covers most of the things we would expect it to cover. 

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"But our challenges with it are, how digestible it is to the public. 

"Clearly Abbey Fields is an asset within Kenilworth that has a lot of interest from members of the public and a lot of use. 

"The executive summary is 50 pages."

Kenilworth Town Council is expected to be given a briefing on the plan as a start to public engagement.

But Conservative group leader Cllr Andrew Day said a lot of work will be needed to get residents to help take the plan forward.

"Our comms teams' role will be [important] within this to break it down and make it digestible and genuinely engage the community so they understand this plan," he said. 

"I am assuming it will not be a static item. 

"It will go through reviews and it will need to adapt and change."

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Cabinet members voted unanimously in favour of accepting the report and its recommendations.

See the full report here.