31 - Priory Park improvements consultation

Archived news release from 2007

 

Dudley Council is set to consult with local residents and park users of Priory Park in the town. The consultation will take place at Dudley Council Plus from January 7 to 18 and the outcomes will go into a masterplan of improvements. Once the proposals are agreed, a bid for funding in excess of £2 million will then be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 

Opportunities could include the installation of flood lighting for the old Priory, planting tree avenues and formally establishing an arboretum in the park.

 

Other works could include a teen shelter, repairs to path surfaces to allow better access, resurfacing of the five-a-side football pitch and bowling green and the demolition of the old toilet block and installation of new facilities.

 

“We have made a number of improvements to parks across the borough in recent times and I hope the local community will put their views forward on what they would like to see in Priory Park.

 

“We hope any future Heritage Lottery bid would be successful and that some of the proposals being mentioned can become a reality.”

 

Any works that do take place through the Heritage Lottery bid would follow on from a range of improvements at the park carried out with the recent Liveability funding, which enabled the tennis courts to be refurbished, and the Transforming Your Space programme, which funded the multi-use games area (MUGA) and play area extension.

 

“These plans are very exciting and we will continue to work with Dudley Council and the community to make the most of the bid. I hope as many people as possible will get involved in this consultation and have their say on what they would like to see.”

 

Summaries of preliminary drafts of the plans can be viewed by visiting www.dudley.gov.uk or in person at Dudley Council Plus at Castle Street from January 7 to 18.

 

The exhibition at Dudley Council Plus will be staffed on Saturday January 12 from 9am to noon and on Wednesday January 16 from 1 to 5pm where people can find out more.

 

The heritage lottery bid is broken into two stages. Any application following the consultation would take the form of a stage one application. If successful, a more detailed stage two bid would then be put together and submitted before any funding can be secured.