Date: 24/11/2009
High Peak Borough Council is to bid for more than £400,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) Parks for People to breathe new life into a popular but tired park.
If the application is approved, next September will see the start of an 18-month project to introduce a range of improvements in Whaley Bridge Memorial Park, including restoration of the war memorial, a new play area and park furniture.
Proposed benches will reflect the design of the original benches, installed just less than 90 years ago when the park opened. Proposals will also be drawn up to encourage greater community use.
All of the improvements were identified by the local community during consultation carried out by the council as Stage 1 of the project and funded by £24,300 from the HLF.
The Stage 2 funding bid is being developed by project officer Christine Latham in consultation with the public for submission next March.
Said John Haken, Executive Councillor for the Environment: "The Memorial Park is a much-loved open space which has seen better days and is now under used. If we're successful with our Stage 2 bid for more than £400,000, the park will be transformed in line with community need.
"We're hopeful that our application will succeed as it's based firmly on what residents said they wanted, and is underpinned by a sound business case", he explained.
The park was gifted to Whaley Bridge by Col Ramsden Jodrell in honour of those from the local community who died in the First World War.