Campaigners welcome the start of upgrades on Jubilee Gardens play areas in Cleveleys

The Friends of Jubilee Gardens Cleveleys group has campaigned to improve the park since it formed more than four years ago and led a consultation on how the amenity could be improved.

Now work is under way and there will be two new play areas, including a pirate ship for young children and a climbing frame and slide for older children, plus new planting around the park, which is owned by Wyre Council.

Money from Wyre’s capital programme, plus £30,000 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund will be used to give the park a new lease of life.

The work was originally due to start around March this year but has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Peter Rothwell, secretary of the campaign group, said: "Friends of Jubilee Gardens has been working on this project with Wyre Council Parks Department for over two years and after months of frustrating delay, we are delighted it is finally happening.

"Although the park was still popular, improvements were badly needed and we're happy that the council has now made this happen.

"We think families will like the designs of the new equipment."

Additionally, the group has been raising its own funds for the past three years to make small improvements, such as buying new benches, plants and planters for the park.

Jubilee Gardens opened in Cleveleys in 1937 and for many years included conventional children's play amenities such as a slide, two sets of swings, a roundabout, seesaw and even a paddling pool.

There was also an indoor cafe selling snacks, hot drinks and lolies, a small boating lake and a roofed stage area for shows, including a beauty competition, the Miss Jubilee event, which was held up to the early 199Os.

Following renovation works in 2006, a children's play area, skateboard park and multi use games area were added but since then residents said the park needed to be improved.

The friends group led public consultations in 2016 and 2018 to gauge local opinion and to inform future plans for the park.

Coun Simon Bridge, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces comments, “Our team have worked hard to secure additional funding for this much loved park in Cleveleys and we are delighted to be able to make these improvements.

“We want to give local young people access to high quality recreation equipment whatever their age and this investment will make a real difference to the local community.”