Masterplan for Jubilee Gardens in Cleveleys is welcome but doesn't go far enough, say councillor

A Cleveleys councillor has again called for the revival of a seafront park to go further to avoid a key opportunity being missed.

Cllr Rob Fail, a councillor for Jubilee ward and Leader of the Labour Opposition on Wyre, says he welcomes major plans by Wyre Council to revive Jubilee Gardens.

But he believes the Jubilee Gardens Masterplan project could go further in returning the amenity to something that looks like a park rather than merely a field.

Wyre Council, working with the Friends of Jubilee Gardens, is currently developing the Masterplan, which will utilise £1.9m to reinstate the park in three phases, with £500,000 coming from DEFRA.

The project will mark the 90th anniversary of the facility next year.

A public consultation was held over October last year, giving residents a chance to have their say, and suggestions included features such as a remembrance garden, youth facilities, art installations and new skate park features.

On Thursday night’s full council meeting of Wyre, Cllr Simon Bridge, Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder, said his latest Executive Report was now ready, including latest details of the Jubilee Gardens Masterplan.

Cllr Fail responded: “With regards the Jubilee Gardens masterplan, there are many things to applaud in the plans and I’m sure they will be supported by residents.

“However, I am also sure that there is a need to improve the current plans. The proposals address some of the less fundamental issues such as flooding, the need to secure the boundaries and help protect users from the elements, but the re-design is seemingly being limited to the outer edges of the park, with no real consideration for the central area.

“This was once a well-designed and well-loved park. 2005 saw the end of that well-designed park and the removal of the bulk of the active leisure facilities. That some residents now refer to Jubilee Gardens as the field highlights the absolute need for a complete redesign, not a partial one.

“With funding now being made available, this is an opportunity to fundamentally change the park into something that actually looks and feels like a park, not a field.

He suggested a one-off Overview & Scrutiny task group could look at the proposals after the post consultation Masterplan changes have been implemented.

What happened in 2005?

In 2005, Wyre Council bulldozed parts of the park as a new phase of major sea defence and coastal remodelling works began on the Cleveleys seafront.

The former tennis courts were used as a contractors' compound for this work, and the Rotary Club wishing well was removed from the grounds.

While the park was remodelled with a new children's play area and skate park the following year, the bulldozing of the older, established 1937 park layout in 2005 remains a controversial turning point for many longtime residents.

The space has recently been tied up with the £52m Wyre Beach Management Scheme.

Cllr Fail says the large scale revamp presents a golden opportunity to turn the clock back and make Jubilee Gardens more lik a park again.

Jubilee Gardens history

First opened on May 1 1937 by Lord Stanley, the park was created to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V..

In its prime, it boasted a mini-train that took passengers across the park, a play area including swings, a roundabout, a slide and a paddling pool, along with a cafe selling light snacks, hot drinks, ice cream and lollies.

There was also a boating lake, a bandstand for live performances, tennis courts, and public toilets.

The space is currently home to a multi-use games court, skate park, youth shelter and children’s play area along with Jubilee Gardens Bowling Club, large open fields and the 111-space car park.

Since then it has declined and for the past three years part of it has been used as a site compound for the Wyre Beach Management Scheme, which is being delivered by Balfour Beatty and is due to be completed this summer.

However, there is hope the Masterplan can deliver considerable improvements.

Councillor Bridge previously said:“Wyre Council and Balfour Beatty have a clear responsibility to reinstate the area used during the works.

“Consultation is a chance to create a space that reflects the community’s priorities. Not just restoring what was there, but improving it for future generations.”