The Friends of Haslam Park have secured over £40,000 to refurbish the children’s playground in the park.

The group has recently had a bid for a £30,000 grant approved by the Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF).

This funding is on top of a government grant of £10,000 and a Preston City Council top-up of £3,300 bringing them to a total of £43,300.

Work planned for the Haslam Park playground includes drainage improvements, new items of play equipment, refurbishment of existing items and repainting of equipment and railings.

Michael Balshaw, who stood as an Independant councillor for Ashton in May said: “When I stood in the local elections last year, I was amazed at how dilapidated the kiddies play area on Haslam Park had become.

“It had major drainage issues, equipment was missing or broken and out of bounds.

“I suggested applying for money from all the different sources of funding that are out there.

“It pleases me that this pathway has been explored.”

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The park has a rich history having been donated to the Borough by Mary Haslam in 1910 who designed and constructed the park in her father, John Haslam’s, memory.

One of the newer features of the park is the fine tree sculpture by Iain Cant, students of Tulketh High School and members of Intag, which they sculpted from a dead Beech tree.

Councillor Boswell, Cabinet Member for Environment at Preston City Council, said: “This funding is welcome news for Haslam Park and well-deserved thanks to the hard work of the Friends of Haslam Park group.

“We look forward to working with them together to bring the plans to life for the benefit of all park users.

“Further details of how these funds will be allocated and the plans for the play area will be released in the near future.”

The group are hoping work will commence from Spring 2020.

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For updates follow Friends of Haslam Park on Facebook.

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