Community park transformation given go-ahead
Proposals to transform a run-down community park in Wakefield have been approved.
Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee gave plans for Green Park, in Horbury, the go-ahead.
The scheme, put forward by the Horbury Heritage Trust (HHT) charity, includes building rugby changing rooms, a multi-use games area, outdoor gym equipment and a playground for toddlers.
It also involves installing CCTV cameras and building new car parking spaces, an access ramp and a network of new footpaths.
The land, off Westfield Road, was donated by businessman John Henry Green in 1925 for the benefit of the people of Horbury for use as public playing fields or recreation grounds.
It was originally operated by Horbury Urban District Council but passed to Wakefield Council in 1974 following local government reorganisation.
The council agreed a community asset transfer in August last year to allow Horbury Heritage Trust (HHT) to run the park on a 50-year lease.
Chris Randall, a trustee of HHT, said told the committee: “We recognise that the council has other priorities with limited resources.
“The rugby pitch is without changing rooms or toilets, which is unacceptable really, in this day and age.
“There are issues with parking on Westfield Road by players and spectators when rugby is being played.
“Ossett Rugby Club wants to use the pitch for women and juniors as part of their development and they can’t do that with no facilities for changing or toilets.
Mr Randall added: “We have consulted widely and the plans reflect what our community wants to see in the park.
“Health and wellbeing studies show how important getting into the fresh air is for everyone.
“Making the park accessible and attractive to all is vitally important in that context for those living nearby.
“We ask for the plans to be improved so we can move on with the next stage of raising the funds to deliver the scheme.”
Sport England objected to the application due to the loss of one of the playing fields at the site.
Addressing the concerns, planning officer Nia Thomas said: “There are significant benefits to the wider community on this proposal.
“The playing field hasn’t been used for decades and the existing field is being retained.
The project to take the park back into local ownership has also involved a second charity, Horbury Common Lands Trust (HCLT).
HHT plans to manage the park with the support of an annual grant towards running costs from HCLT.
The groups carried out a feasibility study before submitting the plan to see if the park could be turned into a facility “suitable for the people of Horbury in the 21st Century.”