Park in line for £70,000 revamp
A new shelter is among a package of improvements agreed by district councillors to make Ashbourne’s Memorial Gardens more attractive. It is hoped the work can land the facility a coveted Green Flag Award by 2022
ASHBOURNE’S park could be ready for a coveted Green Flag Award by 2022, says Derbyshire District Council, which is about to start planning a £70,000 revamp of the Memorial Gardens.
The authority has set aside the sum to replace the central bandstand, which is currently close to complete dereliction, and to build a new shelter at the top of the park, which has been missing for many years.
Alongside this project, new lights will be installed for the Memorial Gates ahead of next year’s remembrance ceremonies and work will be carried out in the adjacent recreation ground, to make that more attractive.
District council bosses hope to have the Memorial Gardens ready for an application for a Green Flag Award, a national scheme that sets the standard for public green spaces.
The award was recently given to Hall Leys Park in Matlock and the district council says it now wants to bring Ashbourne in line.
A spokesman said: “The bandstand structure is close to the end of its operating life and has also suffered from extensive vandalism.
“The proposed new shelter is to replace a previous shelter at the top of the park which was lost about 10 years ago.
“The works have yet to be specified and will be undertaken under the guidance of our conservation officer.
“It is hoped that these projects will enhance this area of Ashbourne Memorial Park and make it a much more pleasant place for visitors.”
The authority hopes to have finished the planning and ordering phase of the project by the end of the winter, with an aim to be starting work in the spring.
It is hoped d an application for a Green Flag Award can then be made de in January y 2022.
Ahead of the Memorial Gardens revamp, the district council has been working with ith the Ashbourne ourne Recreation Ground Sport and Community Partnership to help plan and fund the redevelopment of the existing Memorial Pavili vilion by Cokayne C A Avenue Car Park. This p proje ject will se see a new state of t the art sports pavilion built on the recreation ground, g and three football pitches will be upgraded.
The investment will see £42,000 spent over the next six years.
Ashbourne Park Bowls Club has also worked with the council to build a new bowls pavilion, which was completed in August this year.
Other proposed improvements will include “rationalising” some of the storage buildings currently on the green space, which will take place next year.
The district council says the closed public toilets building in the Memorial Gardens will be included in this process.
It is hoped that these projects will enhance this area of Ashbourne Memorial Park and make it a much more pleasant place for visitors.