Queens Park Progress

5th February 2010

Queens Park in Crewe is undergoing a £6.5 million pound makeover – the first in over a hundred years - and only last month the first of five landmark bridges was successfully installed.

Now the media and the public are invited to come along to the next Friends Group meeting to hear all about how works are developing.

The meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 9 at 6pm in the Jubilee Cafeteria at Queens Park.

Discussion points include the new building planned for the park, and an update on the proposed programme of works for 2010.

Background:

Queens Park, the only formal park in Crewe, is more than 100 years old and is currently undergoing a £6.5 million pound restoration thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The first in a series of landmark bridges was installed at Crewe’s Queens Park on January 27th.

Altogether the 45-acre park will eventually house five bridges, the first of which is Tipkinder Bridge over the lnlet at the entrance to the park. 

It’s the smallest of the five bridges at 7.3 metres in length and is made from timber and steel.

The most impressive structure will be Broadwalk Bridge, which will be 40 metres in length and will be unveiled later on this year.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Parks, said: “The installation of Tipkinder Bridge marks the beginnings of a new chapter in the history of Queens Park.

“Since the 1880s, this wonderful public amenity – handed to the people of Crewe by the London and North Western Railway Company - has brought enjoyment to generations of Crewe families, and will continue to do so with a modern twist on the traditional Victorian park.”

Works:

To allow these extensive works to be carried out, around two thirds of the park have been closed off to the public, but it’s hoped that three quarters of the park will have been re-opened by the end of the year.

Other works in the pipeline include a planning application for replacement buildings, the largest of which is the new pavilion to replace the Jubilee Cafeteria built in the 1970s.

Modern in design, it will be made out of sandstone and glass to give customers impressive views over the park’s grand grounds.

Planning permission for a new bowling pavilion is currently under-way and designers are in talks with the Queens Park Bowling Club to get the best facility possible. Both buildings will have newly refurbished public toilets.

Derek Morgan, Chairman of the Friends of Queens Park Group, said, “Things will start to move very quickly during the Spring and Summer months.  People will start to see a real difference as the Park is brought back to its former glory”.

The East and West lodges will also be improved and up-dated and there are plans for a “Memorabilia Lounge” at the West lodge.