Boost to Bassetlaw parks as user groups set to oversee improvement

The user groups would drive forward improvement and redevelopment of The Canch Park in Worksop and Langold Country Park, based on the model already operating at Kings Park in Retford.

It is hoped that if money became available to develop the parks in the future, these new groups would help guide the process.

Councillors discussed the plans at their latest Cabinet meeting, praising the work that already being done by the Friends of Kings Park group.

They said the new groups would give communities more of a chance to contribute to the management of their local parks.

“I think this is purely positive. We should be making the most of our open spaces in Worksop and Langold,” said Bassetlaw Council leader Coun Simon Greaves.

“Langold Country Park could be a fantastic destination for tourists to come to and I think it is very positive the authority takes a more strategic approach to co-ordinate its efforts by forming the three groups with everybody working together to get the best results possible.”

The groups would:

l Act as a consultation body with the public to build ideas for development and management of the parks.

l Make recommendations on plans to redevelop the parks.

l Commend specific projects specific projects and development plans for the parks.

Coun David Pressley said: “There has been excellent work done in Retford but we need that in Worksop too. I think we need a park in Worksop that matches the one in Retford and Langold Country Park needs that improvement too.”

Coun Hugh Burton added: “As a council we have got to equal these parks up. It would be nice to see some improvements driven forward.”

And Coun Alan Rhodes said he was in support of any improvements at Langold Country Park.

“It should be key to bringing visitors to this area. A lot of people recall going there as children and being taken there for family days out and people have a great deal of affection for it,” he said.

“It does need work doing on it and I think it would be money well spent and an investment to improve it.”

Councillors agreed to discuss open spaces improvement groups at the next meeting of the full council, when a decision is likely to be taken.