Work to transform Longford Park in Stretford can now get underway after contracts were finalised, Trafford Council has said.
What the £6m scheme includes
The £6m improvement scheme is expected to include a new BMX track, improvements to the tennis and basketball courts and football pitches, and upgrades to cricket and disc golf. Works to the children’s play area, the café and both the walled and formal gardens are also planned.
Pets corner will also be revamped, while the footprint of the former Longford Hall will be ‘reinterpreted to celebrate the site's history’ and Long Barn will be turned into a volunteer, training and skills hub. Work is expected to get underway this month, Trafford council documents show, and be completed next summer.
Council hopes for a better park
The authority said Longford Park is one of its oldest and “best-loved parks”. The scheme has previously been touted as a “project of borough-wide significance”, with the Labour administration saying it “complements” the transformation of Stretford town centre.
Town hall bosses hope the plan will ‘create a better park for all ages and abilities to enjoy’. Some closures are expected to be needed during the works, but the authority said it will do its ‘best’ to ‘minimise disruption’ and ‘keep as many facilities open as possible’.
Flood reduction and other works
Further works are expected to see Longford Brook opened up under the scheme as one of a number of measures being looked at to help reduce flooding in the area, and new footpaths, seating and lighting are planned.
The council announced earlier this year that it had appointed the Casey Group to deliver the project. Now, bosses have said contracts between the two parties have been finalised and ‘sealed’.
Funding and quotes
Some £3m of the £6m price tag is being funded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, while the remainder is being sourced from ‘a range of partners’, the council added.
Barry Winstanley, Trafford council’s executive member for climate change said: “We are delighted that this exciting project is moving forward and we thank everyone involved for their patience as we reach this important point in the timeline. Local people will be able to see their beloved park changing and improving over the next few months and there will be all sorts of ways to get involved and be a part of this exciting, landmark process.”
Brian Knowles, operations director at The Casey Group, added: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Trafford Council and the wider project team to bring forward these significant improvements at Longford Park. This investment will protect and enhance one of Trafford's most valued green spaces, creating facilities and environments that can be enjoyed by local people for generations to come.
“At Casey, we are passionate about improving lives through the projects we deliver, and we look forward to working closely with the community to create a lasting legacy that encourages inclusion and greater connection with nature."
