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£111,000 to repair Kirkham parks
TOWN hall bosses have been handed a hefty £111,000 bill to give parks and gardens in rural Fylde a facelift.
The lengthy list, containing more than 40 problems at council-owned open spaces across Kirkham, was handed to Fylde chiefs by community leaders.
Kirkham Town Council wants the sites returning to "tip top" condition before agreeing to take over responsibility for them.
If the work is approved, management of all council-owned open spaces in Kirkham will pass to the town council.
Proposed improvements include replacing paths and reinstating a cobbled area at Kirkham Memorial gardens.
The revamp also involves installing rubber matting at Calder Close children's playing area and fixing play equipment on Coronation Park.
Kirkham town councillor Liz Oades said: "Many of our parks and gardens have been damaged over the years. If we are taking them on it is going to cost a lot of money to put them right.
"They were respectable when the council took them over and should be in top condition when we take them on. The renovation works need doing because in some areas they may be a liability."
Ownership of parks and open spaces across Fylde was passed on to parish councils under a controversial new taxation scheme.
Councils have charged an extra fee through council tax to maintain them.
Fylde Council's cabinet will discuss the list during a meeting at St Annes town hall on Wednesday.
Coun Simon Renwick, cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: "It is only right and fair that we hand over these sites in the best possible condition."
Work on a 200,000 facelift at Kirkham's memorial gardens has got underway this week. The war memorial will be renovated and the landscape transformed during the 12-week revamp.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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