Heaton Park - Tell us what you think

03.12.09

There are a number of things that are planned for the parts of Heaton Park nearest to our part of Prestwich, which will be coming for decision over the coming months. As your local Councillors, we need to know what you think, and what your concerns are, so that we can best represent you. Heaton Park is part of Manchester City Council, so it will be them making any decisions, but we can still let our views be known.

Heaton Hall
Manchester City Council embarked on a major project to restore Heaton Park in 1996 when the Council approved the Regeneration Strategy for Heaton Park. A bid to fund the third phase of this project, the restoration of Heaton Hall, was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Manchester CC is waiting to hear on the outcome of this bid.
If succesfull the project would:
-Conserve and repair the external fabric of the whole building;
-conserve the historic interiors and contents of the central core and east wing of the Hall;
-undertake modest improvements to the interior of the derelict west wing to allow public access with associated interpretation;
-provide improved visitor facilities such as reception, shop and accessible toilets;
-provide a more appealing platform to attract funding to develop the interior of the west wing and the Orangery.

It would be estimated that the Hall would close in 2010 and reopen in 2013.

Creation of a new Sports Zone, St Margaret’s Gate Entrance

Plans are coming to Manchester Council’s Planning Committee before the summer for a “Sports Zone” near to the St Margaret’s Entrance of the Park. This would build on the existing Bowling Greens (created for the Commonwealth Games).

The proposed Sports Zone would include:
· 5-a-side pitches
· 7-a-side pitch
- Tennis Courts
· Spectator area
· Climbing wall
· Single storey pavilion comprising changing rooms, meeting rooms and bar
· Car parking

It would be run by a private company (ie there would be a charge for using the facilities normally, however it is proposed that it is made available for community use at non-peak times with free access for under 16 year olds. We’re also assured that there will be no activity after 9.00pm at night.

The project is still at the planning stage and a public consultation exercise will take place in the Farm Centre, Heaton Park within the next 2 months following which the Planning Application will be submitted. 

GOOD POINTS: good local sports facilities; things for young people to do; community use and free for under 16 year olds

POINTS WHICH PEOPLE MIGHT WORRY ABOUT: traffic issues, particularly on the bottom end of St Margaret’s Road; parking issues (St Margaret’s Road & Close etc); using a previously open access part of the park for new activities.If you have any further queries at this stage, please contact one of the 3 Holyrood Councillors (Heaton Park is within the Holyrood Ward) either by email or telephone.

Vi D’Albert  vic@burylibdems.net  773 9905  Wilf Davison  wilf@burylibdems.net   773 2904  Tim Pickstone tim@burylibdems.net  773 8266