‘Unfavourable’ weather delays the opening of £1m park

“UNFAVOURABLE weather conditions” have set back the opening of a new £1 million park in Swadlincote by five months.

The planned Cadley Park on the former coal mining site off William Nadin Way had been due to open by October.

However, nearly two months after that deadline, South Derbyshire District Council, which is leading on the scheme, says the facilities will now not be open until spring next year – at least five months past that date.

When asked by the Burton Mail on the planned opening date, a district council spokesperson said: “The opening of Cadley Park, a new flagship urban park in Swadlincote, has unfortunately been delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions during the year.

“This has not led to any extra costs for the project and we look forward to the park opening in spring 2023.”

The site will include a 1.14km family cycle route, a pump track, and an area where children and new-tointermediate cyclists – and those on scooters – can hone their skills and learn to ride.

Walking around the perimeter of the site, from the neighbouring

Avant Homes Cadley Village housing development, the site appears to have made a good deal of progress from its previous condition as derelict scrubland.

A series of paths have already been laid and the pump track appears to have been fully completed. However, the rest of the site is far from the 21-acres of green open space it was billed as, with only some turf around the pump track, a handful of small trees and a range of saplings to list as its green credentials.

The majority of the site is cultivated soil, with paths, benches and a number of bins and information boards dotting the landscape.

The 21-acre development was given the final go-ahead by councillors in March, with the site named after the former Cadley mining site to honour its heritage.

It will cost £1.1 million to build, with funding from the council, Sports England and British Cycling, along with money from neighbouring developers.

Maintenance of the completed park would be carried out by a private company, not the district council.

This has not led to any extra costs and we look forward to the park opening in spring 2023

District Council