Restoration journey begins at Memorial Park

Restoration work to transform Fleetwood's Memorial Park is set to begin following the appointment of P Casey (Land Reclamation) Ltd as main contractor.

Following months of preparatory work, the Rochdale based firm is due to move onto the park to start a £2.4m comprehensive restoration funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund.

Memorial Park is the latest in a long line of 18 prestigious park restorations which have been delivered by the specialist award winning contractor in recent years, including the HLF funded Avenham and Miller Parks in Preston. And with recent projects in the Royal Parks in London and Buckingham Palace, Memorial Park will be in very good company.

Operations Director, Mike Cafferky, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this contract, and look forward to engaging with Wyre Council to deliver the works in a sensitive manner. We are acutely aware of Memorial Park's historical significance and Grade II listing, and we will be approaching the works with the same high quality service as we have for all our other prestigious projects.”

The park is also welcoming newly appointed Memorial Park Development Officer Kate Baird. Born and bred in Fleetwood, Kate will be responsible for day-to-day management and co-ordinating events and activities on site. Based at the park, she'll be on hand to talk to residents and visitors as the restoration progresses.
 
Kate said: "I have fond childhood memories of the park and am delighted to be working on such a special project within my community. I'm looking forward to talking to people as the changes happen, letting them know how they can get involved and seeing people enjoying the park as its original landscape is slowly restored."

Caseys will move on site in mid-May to set up prior to starting work on Remembrance Avenue and the memorial gateway at the Warrenhurst Road entrance at the beginning of June. The project will also see essential conservation work carried out to the war memorial, pond, pathways and pavilion and the construction of a multi-use games area and parkour facilities.

Work is due to continue until spring 2015 with a programme of community events and activities running alongside. The park will remain open throughout with disruption kept to a minimum.

Find out more at www.wyre.gov.uk/memorialpark
 
ENDS

Photo
Kate Baird, Memorial Park Development Officer

Notes to editors
Wyre Council has been awarded a grant of £2.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund to restore Memorial Park in Fleetwood. The funding will be used to carry out a comprehensive restoration of the Grade II listed park and create a five year programme of community activities to celebrate its heritage and the unique history of the town.

Memorial Park is unique in that the entire grounds were created in commemoration of the First World War, unlike most conventional architectural memorials, and it is one of only a few listed war memorial parks and gardens in the country.

Wyre Council has worked closely with local veterans and the Friends of Memorial Park Group to develop the project and is assisted by a team of dedicated volunteers.

P Casey (Land Reclamation) Ltd is a multi-award winner for multi-faceted park restoration projects UK wide but especially in the North West and Midlands.

Casey won the overall BALI Grand Award and National Landscapes Award for their Lichfield Parks project in 2012. This win was followed a year later, 2013, by their winning of the BALI National Landscapes Award for their celebrated Stamford Park restoration in Tameside which also won an RIBA Regional Design Award, Civic Trust Award and Manchester Society of Architects Award.

Stephanie Collinson, Communications Officer or Tel 01253 887551