Priory Park works dueto start

Improvement works to Chichester’s Priory Park put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic are due to start again.

Chichester District Council will be removing outdated buildings, including an old storage and maintenance area, with the aim of updating facilities and opening up the area to help improve views and accessibility in the northwest corner of the park.

Work is due to start this week to remove an old depot building and landscape the area.

This will include a new footpath linking the sensory garden, by the north-west entrance, to the rest of the park.

The work is expected to last around five weeks, subject to weather conditions.

A small area of the park will need to be cordoned off while the work takes place, but Priory Park will be open as usual.

This means that people can still enjoy the play area, bowls green, cricket pitch, café and guildhall.

The public toilets will also be unaffected.

Tony Dignum, cabinet member for growth, place and regeneration at Chichester District Council, said: “This work was due to take place last year so we are pleased that it has been rescheduled.

“This will enable us to update and enhance the north-west corner of the park for the benefit of everyone who uses it.

“Over the past few years, we have been liaising closely withgroupsandorganisations about ways in which we can improve the park’s facilities.

“The aim was to see how we can make better use of the buildings and space.”

Penny Plant, cabinet member for environment and Chichester contract services, added: “Priory Park is one of Chichester’s hidden gems and we know that the planned improvements will add significantly to the enjoyment of those that visit.

“As a council, we maintain 94 different parks, gardens and green spaces across the district.

“All of these are free to visit and provide opportunities to improve health, enjoy nature, relax and unwind, and to play and have fun.”

Priory Park contains three scheduled monuments: the city walls, The Guildhall and the remains of a Norman motte. Scheduled status shows their significance.

Priory Park became a subscribers park in the midnineteenth century when it was owned by the Duke of Richmond.

It was presented to the City of Chichester Council by the Duke in 1918.

The park is now managed by Chichester District Council. The site is within the Chichester City Conservation Area.