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Diggers move onto site for next phase of Hednesford Park works

The next phase of improvement works at a popular park in Staffordshire has been launched.

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Diggers have moved onto Hednesford Park to build a new network of footpaths.

The park was awarded £2.2million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2012 and the money is being used to fund the works.

Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson said he was pleased to see the project ploughing ahead.

He said: "It's exciting stuff. The diggers have moved on to create new footpaths.

"The revamp work at the park will be going on for a few years. People won't recognise the park when it is finished. It will look wonderful."

As part of the wider transformation of the beauty spot, the pavilion is being extended to two storeys featuring a community room, balcony and ground floor café.

A new skate park is also being created, as well as a new car park. New tennis courts have already been installed.

The children's play area will also be relocated to the centre of the park with the equipment updated.

One of the three adult football pitches will go, to be replaced by a junior or two mini-soccer pitches. One of the two bowling greens will also be lost.

The works are due to continue until 2017.

In February, an historic signal box dating back to the 1800s was moved to the park which has become its new permanent home. It was moved over from part of the Chase Line near Hednesford Station.

It will be fully renovated before it is opened to the public. The box will also be used as an office or base when there are events on at the park.

The building, originally planned for demolition by Network Rail, was constructed in the early 1870s. It has been used ever since on the Chase Line.

In recent years Hednesford has undergone a £50 million revamp with a new Tesco opening. As part of an attempt to bring new businesses to the area, new traders were also offered cheaper business rates after council bosses were awarded £100,000 funding.

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