Work Begins Next Month Refurbishing Wormholt Park
But some are disappointed that tennis courts have been put on hold
Work is set to begin in October on a long awaited £1 million project refurbishing Wormholt Park in Shepherd's Bush.
Friends of the park and local residents have been pushing for the Edwardian green space to be given a new lease of life to make it a friendlier, better and more attractive facility.
Now the Friends of Wormholt Park say that contracts to start work on the redevelopment have been signed and work will begin on October 14 to last for 22 weeks, with a completion date scheduled for 16 March 2016. During this period about 40% of the park will still be open.
H& F Council says after four years' planning, the redevelopment will be funded by money secured from a local developer.
" We eagerly look forward to seeing the park take on a new lease of life that will strengthen its role as a focal point for the local community, as it has been for more than a hundred years," says Derrick Wright, Chair of the Friends of Wormholt Park.
Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents’ Services, says: " We were determined that this refurbishment reflected the wishes of local residents, so I hope we now have a scheme that really reflects that. I am delighted that the work is now getting underway.”
The new plans, designed closely with local residents, will include facilities for those who like to keep active, as well as an open space for events and improved footpaths.
New shrubs will be planted in the flower beds, a new spring-flowering witch hazel walkway will be planted on the western side of the park and the new entrance from the adjoining Bloom development will be lined with an avenue of trees.
For younger children and families there will be a dedicated play area, including a dragon sculpture, designed by pupils of Wormholt Park Primary School.
For older children, there will be an adventure playground in the north-east corner.
The park’s existing ball court will be refurbished to a multi-use games area (MUGA) and slightly relocated on the west side of the park.
However, some local people have been disappointed to hear that plans for new tennis courts are on hold as the extra funding was unavailable.
On their website, the Friend of Wormholt Park say: " As you have already been informed, the tenders for the work came in over budget.
" The Parks Department have done everything possible to trim costs by, for example, using different materials or in one case changing some fencing, but there is still a shortfall in the budget allocated to the project (money given in exchange for the Bloom development and specifically earmarked for the park).
" Rather than try to make savings that would require going back to the architects to adjust the plans (with subsequent extra fees, delays and increased construction costs) the Council have proposed that the budget be met by, for the time being, not building the tennis court.
" Whilst this is not ideal, the Friends saw this as the only opportunity for the work to go ahead and avoid further delays. The Council have promised to work with the Friends and other interested parties to find funding as soon as possible for the tennis court and have proposed that we meet together later in the year to look at the possibilities. In the meantime the area proposed for the tennis court will be left vacant (probably as grass).
" If there are any Friends who have any experience or have ideas of how to raise funding either as corporate sponsorship or from a body like Sports England then that expertise would be useful. Of course, the Council already have some ideas (and experience) in this area."
You can view the revised plan for the park here.
September 24, 2015
August 23, 2013
