Member Article

Work on the transformation of Warrington’s Bank Park gets underway

The first step has been taken in the £2.2 million transformation of Warrington’s Bank Park.

Work has started on the removal of the holly hedge that cuts across the park along with a number of trees, which will allow the reinstatement of the path layout as set out when the park was originally created over 150 years ago.

Works are being undertaken at the present time in order to minimise disruption to wildlife.

The Bank Park public consultation exercise held in autumn last year received an enthusiastic response and there was general agreement to restore of the original path layout, which people thought would make the park more open and appealing.

A number of comments were made regarding the need to replace the trees and hedges that have to be removed and this will be undertaken later on in the refurbishment programme.

Following the results of consultation exercise, Warrington Borough Council intend to replace the bowling greens with floodlit, all-weather greens, refurbish the toilet block, create new playground facilities that are inclusive of older children and, subject to further consultation, build a new pavilion.

The funding for the works will come from the Council’s capital programme and so will not affect the delivery of front line services.

Cllr Kate Hannon, executive board member for leisure, community and culture, said: ’This is an historic day. This is the first step in transforming our much treasured Bank Park.

It will initially look strange with the hedge removed but this will open up the park and it is necessary to do this work now for ecological reasons. Work will start on creating the new pathways early in the coming weeks.

We are looking forward to sharing revised plans for the park with the public soon, particularly those for the pavilion, having incorporated the valuable feedback that we received in the consultation exercise held last year into the new designs.

Like all of the parks in the borough, Bank Park belongs to the people of Warrington and the council is enjoying working with residents and businesses in reinventing its future as a vibrant town ‘front garden’’.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .