Smethwick park revamp to go ahead as £4.5m grant secured

Heritage Lottery has agreed to back the project to upgrade West Smethwick Park.

The cash boost means the park and its historic features will undergo substantial improvements.

Planning permission for the work was granted last month, but the fate of the project hung on securing the lottery grant. The total cost of the scheme is around £5.1 million, with Sandwell Council putting up the rest of the money.

A range of improvements will be made, including to the park's entrance, bandstand and boating house. Pathways and a drinking fountain will be restored.

The James Chance Memorial and a tribute to two airmen whose plane crashed in the park in 1944 will also be restored.

The boating lake, upper pool, dam and ornate bridge will be restored, and the existing games area will be upgraded and a large outdoor gym area will be created.

The entrance gates and pathways will b e restored to their original design.

Sandwell Council's leisure boss Councillor Richard Marshall said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for this much-valued park, the Friends Group and everyone that visits.

"It’s very well used and I know residents have been concerned about the condition of the park.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant will allow us to make vital improvements to this historic park.

“Although parks are not a statutory requirement, here in Sandwell we’re committed to investing in good quality local parks that are properly maintained and properly managed for the local community.

“When the work is completed, hopefully it will attract even more people to the park. When we carried out a public consultation, there was strong support for our plans and a call for more family events and community activities to be held there.

“We already have the most Green Flags and green spaces per head of population, than anywhere else in the country and we look forward to more of our parks receiving Green Flag status in the years ahead.”