Cannock park to undergo a £1 million refurbishment

Heath Hayes Park will also get a revamped car park, new fencing and an overhaul of the tennis courts.

It comes after major makeovers at neighbouring parks in Hednesford and Cannock.

The work in Heath Hayes will be funded through new levies charged to developers who win major building contracts in the district.

George Adamson, leader of Cannock Chase Council, said: "Parks are very important community facilities which help to keep people happy and healthy.

"Heath Hayes Park is well used by football teams around the area as well as local residents.

"Hednesford has had money spent on it and Cannock has been refurbished to a high standard. It is now time to raise the quality of the facilities at Heath Hayes."

The Community Infrastructure Levy in effect replaces Section 106 money. It is anticipated it will raise more cash but the new scheme is still in its infancy.

With money allocated at a price per metre of land - in Cannock, mainly £60 a metre - councils in the south of the country, where property is more expensive, are expected to benefit the most.

Before the money could be released, council bosses had to submit reports to the government for their approval on what projects the money would be spent on. That consent has now been given and the authority last week voted to adopt the spending plan.

Heath Hayes Park boasts lots of natural areas, a children's play area, two football pitches that are well used by five-a-side teams, changing accommodation and a car park off Wimblebury Road.

The main entrance is accessed by a set of intricate memorial gates, refurbished a number of years ago, which commemorate the men from the district who sacrificed their lives in the First and Second World Wars. It is the local focus of the annual Remembrance Day commemorations.

The park's playground was spruced up as part of a £164,000 overhaul in 2008. The memorial gates and monument underwent a major £32,000 facelift in 1998.