Action group to help improve Chasewater

Chasewater Country Park near Burntwood has been taken over by Staffordshire County Council.

Bosses say improvements are planned for the site, which was previously owned by Lichfield District Council.

And, after taking over from April 1, they are now drawing up options for how it can be run in the future.

A not-for-profit organisation could be formed to manage the site, or it could even be run by a private sector company.

Another option is for the council to keep responsibility for the site and pay for improvements from its own coffers.

A report by county councillor Mark Winnington says that while initial work at the site will 'help to move the park in the right direction', he admits a 'longer term view is required'.

This will involve 'moving Chasewater to a more sustainable model that minimises costs and maximises its contributions to Staffordshire County Council's outcomes'.

It adds: "The transfer of Chasewater provides an ideal opportunity to test alternative ways of running country parks by working with external partners and the tenants. An asset that is fit for the future and provides a blueprint for the future operation of the country park estate will be developed."

Details of further improvements are not yet known but should be revealed within months, county council bosses say.

County Councillor Sue Woodward, who represents Burntwood North, said: "Chasewater is a great local asset, right on our doorstep, but has suffered from a lack of investment in its facilities over recent years.

"I am pleased that Staffordshire County Council has some exciting plans for the area to be developed into a country park, which will bring new leisure opportunities as well as, hopefully, new jobs to the area."