THE PROJECT
BACKGROUND
Green Park is currently managed by Wakefield MDC as the trustees of Green Park. However, the use and quality of the open parkland has declined over the years to the extent that there is now just one playable sports pitch left in the park. The remainder is largely semi rough grassland. It is a fantastic 10-acre space, but sadly has not met the needs of the wider community for many years.
Horbury Heritage Trust Ltd (a registered charity and the trustees of Primrose Hall) have been concerned about this for many years and have frequently been asked whether we could do anything about it. The opportunity to do something became possible when we commenced working alongside another established local charity, Horbury Common Lands Trust. They will be our partners and provide an annual grant to underpin the running costs of the park in our application to obtain a Community Asset Transfer to manage Green Park.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
An independent Feasibility Study to investigate and report on the possibility of the two charities taking over the management of Green Park was commissioned through “Groundwork”.
Our aim is to create a vibrant, well used park that provides a place to walk, play, cycle, relax and play formal and informal sports to improve health and wellbeing. We also aim to improve accessibility for all and enhance the biodiversity within the park, encouraging more people to visit the park and for longer periods. We are happy to retain the existing rugby pitch within the plan and consider that it retains ample space for the park’s main current use, dog walking, to continue.
We were delighted that the 68-page report reached positive conclusions. Some of the key points made are below:
“For a park of this size and proximity to housing the current park useage points to significant under use”
“The park has very significant potential for improvement. There is significant potential for bringing focus on this underinvested park”
The park could “plug a real gap in the provision in Horbury and the trustees could bring investment to the site and create a newly revitalised local park responsive to local needs”
“The existing experience within Horbury Heritage Trust would be a strong start for the management and development of the site…”
Of course, there are many challenges ahead in undertaking a project such as this. The purpose of the Feasibility Study is to point these out, assess them, and come to balanced independent conclusions on the viability. Both charities have accepted the report and agreed that we should proceed to the next phase.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
In October 2020 we commence a public consultation. This is an essential part of the process for various reasons:
Green Park is held in trust for the benefit of the people of Horbury. It is NOT owned by WMDC, they currently manage it as Trustees on behalf of the community of Horbury. It is only right and proper that the community should have a major say in what happens to “their park”!
The Feasibility Study provided us with a Concept Masterplan for what the park could look like if developed. The purpose of consultation is to test this against public opinion.
There are numerous sources of funding that maybe available from which we can obtain development grants. They will all expect to see evidence of successful community consultation(s) to support grant applications.
It is quite possible that further focused consultation events will follow. This is often done in “workshops” with community members to refine the ideas.
The results of the consultation were very positive. Following a series of meetings, including volunteers from the newly formed Friends of Green Park Horbury, the Masterplan was modified and can be viewed from the “Masterplan” tab. (The full report on the Public Consultation can be viewed from a link below the Masterplan)
COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER AND NEXT STEPS
As you would expect there is some overlap of our activities and steps are being taken to be proactive and move forward at all times:
Discussions have taken place with WMDC to confirm the legal options for transfer of management responsibility.
The possibility of a Community Asset Transfer (CAT), became the preferred option. This is a bit like a long-term lease, where WMDC retain their role as Trustee.
WMDC have followed a standard procedure to advertise for community groups to provide an “Expression of Interest” in applying for a CAT. As a result, it was possible for other interested parties to express an interest in taking over the management of the park.
We submitted our Expression of Interest on May 24th 2021 and we are confident that our proposals are difficult to surpass in all respects.
Following this we have been invited to progress to Stage 2 of the process, along with one other applicant. This requires the submission of a detailed Business Plan, with a deadline of August 13th 2021. WMDC will assess applications and make a decision in the following 4 weeks on who is to be the preferred applicant.
Following this there will, if all has gone well, be a period of discussion with WMDC to agree the terms of any lease. This and the associated legal work could take up to 18 months to complete!
Whilst this is ongoing, there will be many tasks to complete to start delivering our Business Plan and begin to rejuvenate the park.
Grant funding: The project will only be successful if we are able to obtain large scale funding grants. The Management Committee will be responsible for sourcing these to complete the project. They may do this with the assistance of our previous partners “Groundwork” who have extensive experience of developing funding strategies and writing grant applications for major UK funding bodies such as Big Lottery.
With the final masterplan in place, we shall review the projected income and expenditure for the park and confirm the annual grant amount required to operate it with Horbury Common Lands Trust. Clearly, a park with free public access will have a very limited income stream, if any at all, so we must manage our finances prudently within a pre-determined budget.
TO CONCLUDE
As you can see, there are still several obstacles to overcome, but we would not have proceeded to the business plan stage if we did not believe that the project can be successfully delivered.
It will take time and estimates are that it will take 2 to 10 years to fully complete. Much depends on the pace at which we are able to raise funding, along with obtaining planning permission in the case of some of the proposals. If we are successful in obtaining one or more very large grants much can be achieved within perhaps 2 to 5 years.
All we can say is that with community support we will do the very best that we can!
Michael Cudworth
On behalf of Horbury Heritage Trust Ltd and the Friends of Green Park Horbury
(July 2021)