2020
£74k improvements coming to Carlton park
Date Posted: 11:06 AM on Mon, 12 October 2020New multi-use games area and table tennis tables planned for Onchan Park, Carlton, thanks to external funding.
Onchan Park will be refurbished with a brand new multi-use games area, suitable for playing football, basketball and cricket, new surfacing will replace the existing tarmac at the site making it safer for users, an additional entrance will be created from Onchan Avenue and an improved footpath suitable for disabled park users as well as pushchairs will give access to the new facilities.
Improvements can be made thanks to funding from FCC Communities foundation, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by waste and resource management company FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. FCC Communities Foundation will be providing a grant total of £74,450 for the park refurbishments.
The funding bid was made jointly by Gedling Borough Council and The Friends of Onchan Park, a local residents’ community group which formed in 2016 to help look after the park as well as allowing the local community to have their say in how the site is managed.
Work on the park is planned to begin in December 2020 with the park expected to officially open in February 2021.
Cheryl Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation Local Grant manager said;
“We are delighted to be supporting Gedling Borough Council and the Friends of group who worked tirelessly to show us why the project was needed and that it was well supported by the local community. This is a fantastic facility for local people, and we look forward to work starting shortly.”
Alison Pritchard, Chair of The Friends of Onchan Park said;
“This is wonderful news, Onchan Park has been in desperate need of renovation since it was saved by the community 4 years ago. These funds will provide a superb opportunity for all ages to enjoy new sporting facilities at the park. The whole community came together to support and raise funds for this to happen and we can’t wait to see the new facilities in use."
Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Peter Barnes Said;
“It’s brilliant to find out funding has been awarded for the park. I’d like to thank The Friends of Onchan Park who have worked with us to make this application for their local community and of course to FCC Communities Foundation for providing the funding for yet another one of our local parks, we simply couldn’t do this without their support. One of our key priorities is to enhance our parks and open spaces to provide an attractive environment that local people can enjoy, and this park will do just that and continue to be well loved by the local community.”