Published February 22, 2016 at 16:21
The Stubbylee Masterplan was officially launched with a 1 mile walk round the Park’s grounds on 19 February. Local residents braved the cold weather to walk round the new way-marked route lead by walk leader James Kenyon from Newground.
The permanent way-marked route is part of the Council’s successful Up & Active Project. The walk is easy to follow from the car park or park entrances and takes in the main features of both Stubbylee and Moorlands Parks and is an easy to follow route along safe paths.
The group walked round the park and were able to talk to Council Officers, Councillors and groups involved in the Masterplan about the developments for Stubbylee Park.
The Council has been formulating the masterplan for Stubbylee with the Park’s Friends Group, Bacup Pride, Newground, Stubbylee Community Greenhouses and local ward Councillors, to come up with a prosperous plan for this wonderful community asset.
The ambitious and stimulating plans will be delivered in various stages over the next two years, covering all areas of the park.
Stubbylee Park is a fantastic community space, which already encompasses many serene woodland escapes and wildlife. The improvements scheduled in the masterplan will vastly increase the strong community, recreation and healthy lifestyle offer.
The plan involved work on the landscaping, planting, pathways, lighting and heritage features. As well as detailed work on The Dell, the Rose Garden, the Sunken Garden, the Duck Pond and the park’s many entrances.
The masterplan also includes visionary new ideas such as a café, climbing boulders and a pump track. The new Rossendale to Rochdale Cycleway, part of the £2m of development for Rossendale into the Valley of Stone Greenway, will also pass through the West of the Park.
Bringing the masterplan to life has involved the working hard to co-ordinate funding opportunities to deliver many aspects of the plans, which it sees as a key focus in the regeneration of Bacup, whilst also using resources from the Parks team, Section 106 money, the park’s friends group and Bacup Consortium.
Bacup Councillor Barbara Ashworth commented; “I’m delighted that the plans are coming together and that funds have been identified to complete the work. Several local residents have contacted me to say that they already see a difference in the park, and that they’re looking forward to enjoying the facilities, which will be a great attraction in the area.”
The Council will continue to provide updates through this exciting period of work for the park.