Park champion is in demand

Barbara Wilson, chairman of the Friends of Coalshaw Green Park (left), took Cheshire West and Chester Council officials Jill Connolly and Gary Hulmes on a tour of the park.

THE expertise of one of Chadderton’s best-known volunteers, heralded for her work turning round the fortunes of Coalshaw Green Park, has been called on to help save other rundown parks.

Barbara Wilson threw her energies behind the Friends of Coalshaw Green Park when the park was refurbished in 1998.

Since then she has become a permanent fixture, running a cafe in the bowling pavilion and keeping an eye on youngsters who use the park.

Her determination to make the park a jewel in the crown of Chadderton has built a reputation which has spread far and wide.

Officials from Cheshire West and Chester Council paid a visit to the park to meet her, and find out how they can spur members of the public to become park champions like Barbara.

Jill Connolly, a green space officer with the Cheshire council, said the area’s parks were in danger of closing unless they could attract local people to take some responsibility for them.

She said officers simply did not have the time to do the level of work carried out by Barbara, whose commitment and dedication have long been recognised by Oldham parks bosses as being vital to Coalshaw Green’s vibrancy.