House proud at Queens Park

 

Work has begun to restore the gatehouse lodges at Queens Park to their former glory. 

While the work is under way, the adjoining main gates on Victoria Avenue will be closed. However, a temporary entrance has been created 50 yards along the road, for pedestrian access.

A total of £300,000 has been allocated for the refurbishment, which includes new roof cladding, replacement windows, porch repairs, demolition of extensions and structures that are not original, reinstatement of drainpipes and gutters to match originals and restoration of the garden and boundary walls to their original condition and location. 

Both lodges will have new gas central heating boilers, new floor coverings and be completely redecorated.

The West Lodge will also get a disabled toilet, new kitchen, offices, new memorabilia room and a meeting room for school groups and other users.

The East Lodge will be completely rewired and have new toilets, showers and mess facilities for the gardening team, offices, a training/meeting room for horticultural students, storage for hand tools and an external cleaning area for equipment within the walled garden. The work is due to be completed by the end of May.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “It is fantastic that these premises will be brought into park use and will benefit from the significant investment in the Queens Park restoration project. 

“The Heritage Lottery Fund is extremely supportive to help bring the exteriors of the lodges back largely to their original condition – which is great news, as we think this particular view is probably one of the most photographed in Crewe.

“This is another example of our determination to be an excellent council and work with others to deliver for Cheshire East and enhance the environment.”

Crewe South Ward member Councillor Dorothy Flude said: “I am very pleased to see that the two lodges are being brought back to their former Victorian glory.

“The space within the West Lodge for use by school children is an excellent idea. It’s good that schools will be encouraged to use this facility so youngsters can enjoy learning about the history of the park and the wider Crewe area as well as taking part in environmental and conservation activities in their community.”

If you want to learn more about the project, come to the next meting with project officers and consultants at Marshfield Bank Community Centre, off West Street, Crewe, on Wednesday, March 9, at 5.30pm. Or, you can become a paper or email member by ringing Queen’s Park manager Elaine Dodd on 07825351808.

Queens Park was renowned as one of the finest parks in the North West. It is undergoing a £6.5m transformation to bring it back to its former glory. The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing a £2.7m support grant with the rest of the investment coming from Cheshire East Council.

Within the park’s 45 acres are walkways, trees, shrubs, planting, children’s play area, crown green bowling, putting, boating lake grassed areas, memorials and cafeteria.

For more information on the Queens Park restoration project visit the Queens Park web pages at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk – then click ‘Leisure, Culture and Tourism’ and follow the links to the relevant pages.    

The Bowling green now has a chimney sticking up clad in sandstone

The cafe mean while is going more and more pink as more roofing goes on in a nice pink colour