Green Flag’s top ten award for town park
ceremony attended by Halton’s mayor and mayoress John and Marjorie Bradshaw.
The project was completed with Warrington-based property consultancy PDW.
Nicky Harris, Halton Housing’s development manager who oversaw the development, said: “We are delighted with the Swain Close
Vbuild project.
“These modern affordable rent properties are a great addition to the area – close to nearby schools and local amenities.”
David Bethell, PDW managing director, said: “Having worked closely with Halton Housing to support them through the completion ICTORIA Park in Widnes has been named as one of the top 10 parks in the country by the Green Flag Award.
Beating hundreds of other parks in the UK, Victoria Park was one of the winners of the 2018 People’s Choice vote.
It is the only park in Cheshire and the North West of England to make the top 10 list.
According to TripAdviser it is the number one attraction in Widnes.
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager, said: “Congratulations to everyone who has helped Victoria Park become one of the nation’s favourites and a Green Flag Award People’s Choice winner.
“We know parks matter to people and that those tasked with looking after them have faced and are facing some significant challenges.
“This award is the public’s way of showing just how much they value their parks and an acknowledgement to the hard work of the teams that make them such great places.”
People were asked to vote for their favourite national park in an online vote in September.
Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for the physical environment, Cllr Ron Hignett, said: “We are very proud of Victoria Park. The award is a credit to the of this project, we’re delighted to see the new site finished.
“We’ve worked on a number of similar residential developments for Halton Housing in their drive to provide more affordable housing for local people.
“We’ve delivered in excess of 300 new homes across Widnes and Runcorn for Halton hard work front-line staff and volunteers put in to keep it in such great shape.”
The nine other winners of the 2018 People’s Choice Award alongside Victoria Park are: ● Cassiobury Park, Watford ● Clifton Park, Rotherham ● Elsecar Park and Local Reservoir Nature Reserve, Barnsley ● Saltwell Park, Gateshead ● Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire ● Telford Town Park, Telford and Wrekin ● Wivenhoe Park, University of Essex ● Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets ● Warley Woods, Sandwell
Victoria Park is regarded as Halton’s ‘premier park.’ Opened in 1900 Housing on their Latham Avenue, Tanhouse Lane, Yew Tree Lane and Barkla Extra Care developments over the last three years.
“The different accommodation types provided at Swain Close are a welcome addition and we’re sure they’ll be fantastic homes for many families for years to come.” ● to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Heritage Lottery funding has restored Victoria Park and enabled the replacement of the major features that had disappeared over the years such as the bandstand, fountain and lake.
The Green Flag Awards Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry Of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
Victoria Park features secure play facilities, an ice cream kiosk, a contemporary park pavilion, bowling greens, a model boating lake, floodlit tennis and basketball courts and skate facility and glasshouses with a pets corner and butterfly house.