Park group’s bags of help from store
STEFAN JAJECZNYK
ACOMMUNIT Y group which is regenerating a Valley park has made a successful bid for funding from a supermarket initiative.
Friends of Stubbylee Park in Bacup is one of the latest groups to have received a cash boost from the Tesco ‘ Bags of Help’ initiative.
Tesco awards grants through its community funding scheme - with money raised from the 10p carrier- bag charge.
Funds are allocated by in-store customer votes. Stubbylee Park came second overall in the Haslingden and Rawtenstall stores, and received a grant of £ 2,000.
The funding will allow Rossendale council, working with Friends of Stubbylee Park, to restore and replant the sunken garden with fruit trees.
The restoration forms part of a wider project by the Friends to revitalise Stubbylee park.
Coun Jackie Oakes, Rossendale council’s portfolio holder for operations, was grateful for the support.
She said: “We’re delighted that the public vote for this project has enabled us to start work on the sunken garden.
“This is the next stage tastic place for residents to spend time.”
The Bacup park’s duck pond has already been finished and Coun Oakes - who says the park is her favourite in the borough - confirmed plans for the Dell area have been finalised.
She said: “It’s the start of the money that we need to improve the sunken garden.
“We will need a lot more than £ 2,000 so if anyone’s got any suggestions of where we can apply for money or how we can fundraise please let us know.
“It will be down to fundraising, really, because the council won’t have a lot of money to contribute - but we’ve done alright up till now.
“We’re hoping that lots of people will come down over the summer and have a look.”
The fund is inviting local community groups and schools in the Haslingden and Rawtenstall area to apply for the funding in time for the next deadline in late May.
Anyone interested in the funding should contact their local enabler, Liz Edwards on 0161 220 1000 or email elizabeth. edwards@ groundwork. org. uk.