Part of Walsall park closed for groundworks ahead of major facelift
Parts of a Walsall park will be closed temporarily to the public for groundworks for a multi-million pound facilities makeover to be carried out.
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The council said digging work is due to start this week at King George V Memorial Playing Fields in Bloxwich ahead of a major revamp project. As a result the investigation works will be intrusive and will cause some disruption for park users, with some sections of the park due to be closed off whilst holes are dug.
It said the site surveys are part of the £5 million Greening Bloxwich million project to assess the ground ahead of the planned redevelopment for a new astro turf 3G football pitch, a new pavilion, a cafe, events' space, changing rooms, toilets and showers built at the park off Stafford Road.
The investigative work will involve drilling into the earth in various locations in preparation for the revamp work which will get under way in November.
Walsall Council's associate leader and regeneration boss Councillor Adrian Andrew said: “This work has been in the planning stages for a long time and I know the people of Bloxwich are eager to see progress. It’s great that we are starting to see work on-site now and I hope the results of the investigations are positive and we can start getting spades in the ground towards the end of the year as planned.
“The improvements that we have planned for King George V will really make it a destination of choice and will be a real jewel in the crown for Bloxwich.”
As part of the Government funded £25m Bloxwich Town Deal King George V Playfields is among three parks in the area including Bloxwich Park in The Green off High Street, and Leamore Park in Blakenall Lane receiving investment for improvements.
Under the project residents will get new sports and games facilities including tennis, netball and basketball courts as well as creating new multi-use games areas.
There will also be improvements to paths and tree and bulb planting throughout the park.
The groundwork work will help to determine things like soil strength and will enable monitoring of gas and groundwater. These tests are essential in determining suitable building materials and foundation requirements before work begins.
When the project was unveiled last year residents in the area gave a mixed reaction with some many welcoming the programme while others questioned why the sums were not being pumped into making the town centre more appealing to shoppers rather than the parks.
In addition, new public toilet has been put up in Bloxwich High Street under a pilot scheme at a cost of £98,000.
