Tunstall Park Refurbishments begin - Update

Works have now commenced on the new refurbishments for Tunstall Victoria Park and will take up to 16 weeks to complete.

The Tunstall Carnival organised by the Lions will still take place on Sunday 17th July 2011.

There will be some disruptions in the park during this time, starting with the play area, as it has now been closed off to the public.

Obviously some machinery will be in the park during this time carrying out the changes to the play area, courts by the Floral Hall and tennis courts by the bowling green. Works are also being carried out on the driveway in to the park off Queens Avenue.

We are working closely with the Tunstall Victoria Park Trust and keeping the Meakin Trust updated during this time.

Please check back for further developments and/or changes to timescales.

Work starts to turn benefactor’s legacy into park playtime smiles

A benefactor’s £320,000 legacy is set to bring smiles to Tunstall children, as work starts on two state-of-the-art park play areas.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working with the Tunstall Victoria Park Trust to carry out the work, along with a range of other improvements, to Tunstall Victoria Park. It follows a huge donation by trustees for the late Reginald Johnson, who managed three booming pottery factories in the town until the late 1960s.

The money is being used to create a toddler play area which includes trampolines and a shipwreck, a junior play area, complete with a cable ride and giant swing, a and picnic area. There will also be a large multi-use games court located adjacent to the floral hall. Other works include the replacement of fencing around the existing tennis courts, the relaying of the entrance driveway to the park off Queens Avenue, and the resurfacing of the public car park. The major works are expected to last up to 16 weeks.

As well as the Johnson family’s donation, the scheme is also benefiting from Section 106 funding – money earmarked through planning agreements for environmental and community improvements.

A wide range of opinions were sought to identify what improvements to bring to the park, including consultations at last year’s Tunstall Park Carnival, Tunstall Library, Tunstall Local Centre, residents associations and the My Tunstall website, as well as with members of the Tunstall Victoria Park Trust.

Council leader Mohammed Pervez said: “We are thrilled that our partnership with the Tunstall Victoria Park Trust has been so successful and that this work is to bring fabulous new facilities to the park. It was a wonderful gesture by the Johnson family to give the money to the park and the new facilities will be a lasting tribute to their generosity.

“The scale of the project means that the work will take a number of weeks to complete. We ask visitors to have patience, because the end result will be well worth the wait.”

The park is Grade II listed and boasts a boathouse, bowls pavilion, clock tower and lodge. Its floral hall has been revamped as a community centre which helps local groups, including parents with young families. The park also has two crown green bowling greens, fishing facilities and a full sized football pitch.