Vale Park revamp on track
Archived press release
Date Published: 14/07/08
More improvements are planned for Vale Park
Aylesbury Vale District Council is pressing ahead with improvement works to Vale Park despite its bid for lottery funding being unsuccessful.
The council submitted a £1.7 million bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund back in September 2007 – in the hope that the massive cash injection would allow them to restore the park, in the centre of Aylesbury, to its former glory.
Earlier this year, lottery chiefs announced that the council’s bid had failed to make the final shortlist. They explained that the fund was extremely popular, with the total amount of funding requested exceeding £40 million. Given the competitive nature of the programme with a budget of only £20million, they could only progress a limited number of applications and focused upon those with the highest heritage value.
Despite the knock-back, the council is pushing ahead with a revised renovation programme using section 106 contributions from nearby housing developments. However, the plans will have to be introduced in stages, with some improvements being undertaken as and when funding is available.
The council is aiming to return the park to an appearance more in keeping with the original design drawn up in the 1920s by Thomas Mawson & Sons, a leading park design company from the Edwardian era.
Work on the first stage of the refurbishment is due to start later this summer and will involve the removal of the old tennis courts, which will be replaced with a large open area of grass. At the same time a new footpath link by the Bearbrook will be built.
Improvements planned for 2009 and beyond include creating a new entrance and central path, renovating the railings, gates and brick piers, installing new park furniture and opening up Lovers Walk.
Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “It was disappointing for the council not to receive the lottery grant but the scheme administrators stressed that the application and the background work was excellent and that their decision was based on the level of funding available and relative heritage interest. The process of making the application was useful as it involved a great deal of public consultation and has led to an excellent renovation plan which will help preserve the history of Vale Park and secure its future for generations to come.”
AVDC has made a number of improvements to Vale Park over the past three years. The first phase of the redevelopment project was carried out in 2005 with the creation of a new children’s play area and a footpath onto Park Street.
Work on the sports zone, the second phase of the redevelopment, was completed in 2006. This area of the park has a grass bowling green, two hard surface tennis courts and a multi-sports area suitable for football and basketball.
Vale Park dates back to the 1800s with elements of the earlier landscape, such as the black poplar trees, still in-situ today.
The Vale Park redevelopment plan is available to view on the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure-culture and residents can find out more about the project by calling 01296 585228.