£1m beauty spot park work begins

RESTORATION work is set to start on two buildings at the Lottery-winning Dunwood Park next week.

The bowls pavilion will be refurbished and the gardeners bothy — currently used as a store room — will be restored and extended to form community rooms and public toilets.

Contractors will be on site setting up equipment on Monday with work set to begin the following Monday.

This signals the start of an overall programme to refurbish the Shaw beauty spot thanks to £1,093,618 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £270,000 from Oldham Council.

Built in 1912, Dunwood Park combines urban and countryside features and is now in need of renovation.

It will be extensively rebuilt with modern facilities while retaining its original character and features.

The main parkland’s transformation is expected to begin in early June.

Existing elements, such as the bowling green, pavilion, play area, tennis courts, parking areas, gardens and woodland walks, will be retained and refurbished, while new features, including a community meeting room, extra toilets, and adventure play facilities will be added.

The physical works, however, are only part of the overall project, which has involved the local community — including the Friends of Dunwood Park group — at every stage to an extent not seen before in a capital scheme.

It will provide opportunities for education, training, and activities associated with the planning, design, construction and subsequent management.

Elaine McLean, Oldham’s executive director for economy, place and skills, said: “This is a thrilling moment in the project and the culmination of a lot of hard work, most notably by the Friends of Dunwood Park, in partnership with the council.

“It is also the beginning of the next stage in the park’s life.

“For the next 18 months the park will see a great amount of upheaval and I hope the community will bear with us through the disruption as we deliver what will be a fantastic park for the centenary in 2012.”