Beat the crunch — visit the park

OLDHAMERS hit by the credit crunch and forced to shelve expensive hobbies are being urged to try out the borough’s parks and free facilities in their leisure time.

Oldham’s parks boss Steve Smith believes parks will play a vital role in combating the recession.

“People can no longer afford holidays like they used to. They are cutting back and staying at home more, and there is a greater demand for parks and council leisure facilities,” he said.

Mr Smith was prompted to take a closer look at the level of use of Oldham’s parks after Mike Cumiskey, who runs the cafe at Chadderton Hall Park, noticed an increase in the number of families using the park.

He said: “One man brought his family into the park and said they had had a cracking day.

“They spent the morning enjoying the park, came into the cafe for their dinner, and went back into the park for the afternoon.

“The whole family had the day out for about £15. He said the family had spent a day in Blackpool the week before, it cost him £200, and they had a better time in the park.”

A total of £1 million is earmarked to create new play areas in Oldham’s parks during 2009, and Mr Smith described it as a great move to provide more facilities for families who needed low-cost entertainment in difficult times.

Parks bosses are also looking at the potential of turning unused buildings in some of the borough’s parks into cafes.