Works to improve pathways, landscaping and lighting across the Green Flag Award winning Worden Park will get underway from Wednesday 31 May and should last up to 14 weeks.

Full access to all areas of the park, Hall, and businesses, including the Folly Café will be in place throughout the duration of the works, but visitors should expect some diversions to usual pathways while works are being completed.

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Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Cabinet Member for Property, Assets, Commercial Services and Major Developments, said: “Following the incredible refurbishment of Worden Hall, we now need to make improvements and changes right across the park which will raise the quality of the access and landscape around the Hall and will enhance its use as a high-quality event and community space.

“Not only will the works provide better access to the Hall and its grounds, we’ll be improving access to other great areas of the park such as the ponds, play area, ice house and formal gardens.

“The improvement works were put to consultation earlier this year, and overall residents and businesses were positive about the new changes.

“Already we are seeing huge numbers of visitors to the new Worden Hall and we have started to take bookings for the community use and events spaces. The improvement works across the park will enhance the visitor experience and make access around the park easier for all.” 

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The works will see:

• Improvements to the surface of the existing paths and drives
• Reduction of conflict between vehicles and pedestrians on the route between the main car park and Worden Hall car parks, providing a pedestrian route to Worden Hall independent from the vehicle route
• New pathway lighting
• New path links between key locations on the park such as the main car park, fishpond and playground
• Reinstatement of paths that once ran through the area south of the formal gardens as part of William Andrews Nesfield’s original landscape design for the site
• The removal modern additions that are not an enhancement of the original design, including the removal of the modern rose garden and returning the area to grass and specimen trees.

Councillor Bylinski Gelder continued: “The works are set to take around 14 weeks and during this time, we are committed causing the least amount of disruption as possible for park goers.

“Visitors may see work taking place in various areas across the park but access across the park, to the café, businesses and hall will always be available.”

“I look forward to the work getting started and to the bright future of the Hall and Park.”

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