Park project set to go ahead with next stage
RUNCORN Town Park’s £1.4m transformation is set to continue with work to tackle flooding on Stockham Lane and revamp more entry points and paths.
So far the borough’s biggest park has already had large sections of path widened and resurfaced, benches have been installed, and drains and brook crossings have been modernised, as part of £339,000 of renovation works completed to date.
The project has also invested £130,000 on refurbishing the Runcorn Ski Centre car park, undertaken in June 2019, and soft landscaping works have taken place including hedge laying and vegetation clearance to improve visibility.
Halton Borough Council is now poised to table a bid for funding to revamp the boundary, entries and paths along the border with Palacefields Avenue.
Signage is also expected to be improved and works are already under way to redevelop the Holt Lane entrance as part of a Halton Lea pedestrian works programme funded by the Liverpool City Region.
Tackling flooding on Stockham Lane is scheduled to form part of the next phase of works.
The local authority also hinted that funding for two park workers, Jon Wright and Chris Smith, who were initially hired on a five-year contract, will be extended for a further five years.
Halton Council unveiled its Town Park masterplan for the Town Park in December 2018.
Funding has been sourced from the Viridor energy-from-waste environmental fund and WREN landfill tax credits.
Cllr Ron Hignett (open spaces) said: “The aim for the next phase of works set out in the Town Park Masterplan Strategy is to carry out further enhancement to the park’s paths and entrances off Palacefields Avenue to connect up with the projects already competed.
“As well as improving opportunities to hold events in the existing ‘Mini-Wembley’ arena in this part of the park.
“Subject to funding, the aim going forward will be to continue the gradual improvements to the park’s infrastructure and features such as improvements to entrances, boundaries and signage which will be rationalised and better defined, improving access and circulation for park users and better access for management purposes.”
Commenting on the park staff, a Halton Council spokesman said: “Five years of funding was granted for the park workers. We are just over three years in to that.
“The funding includes the vehicle and all of their equipment. The staff are on permanent contracts.
“The idea was that if the project works – and it certainly has – then a further five years funding would be granted.”