Gym kit to be put into park

AN outdoor gym is to be installed in a park, along with a badminton court.

The gym equipment will be installed near the tennis courts over the next two months, after the works were delayed because of the pandemic and poor ground conditions.

The badminton court is also to be built at the top end of Hollycroft Park, Hinckley, near the kiosk building at the top of the pitch and putt course.

A start date for the work to build the court has yet to be confirmed, although it will take place this financial year.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council is delivering the upgrades, which are funded by £14,500 from developer contributions. The Mercury asked the council why a badminton court was chosen as a new installation.

A spokesperson said: “Badminton came out as one of the favourite options from a number of possible improvements we put forward in a consultation we carried out along with gym equipment.

“Also we haven’t got space or suitable areas to put in any more large multi-use courts at Hollycroft.

“The area we are looking at, at the top of the pitch and putt course, only allows for one smaller badminton sized court.”

The council recently posted a picture of a new CCTV camera being installed near the bandstand in Hollycroft Park as part of a £108,000 scheme to tackle crime in the town.

In June, vandals attacked the bandstand, smearing paint on newly painted walls and scrawling graffiti on the building’s doors.

They also damaged the downpipes of the prominent Art Deco-style building, which had just had a £6,500 refurbishment.

In a previous incident earlier that month, police were called to the park after a report of a large group of young people fighting there.

Police attended and the group dispersed and left the area, with a second report coming in 40 minutes later about a group of teenagers fighting in the area of Factory Road.