Despite the hard work of residents, renovation of the old tennis courts in Abbeyfield Park is unlikely to happen in the near future.
The Burngreave Green Environment Programme (BGEP), who have secured funding to make the tennis courts in a MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area), has found itself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Its planning application was withdrawn because of residents’ concerns about flood lighting, but the potential funders won’t fund it without flood lights! BGEP are currently trying to work out a compromise.
A bureaucratic nightmare has also dogged the youth shelter, which was originally planned in July 2004. It was held up in the planning process because of the heritage status of the park. The shelter now has planning permission and will be built later in the summer by Green City Action and the Greenwatch Rangers. The Youth Providers Implementation Group, convened by New Deal has been meeting since October 2004 to find solutions for young people in the park. They are organising a series of events for the summer, no details are yet available.
While the youngsters will have to wait for their facilities, there is good news for the older generation as after several attempts the bowling green is looking fabulous, with new fencing and turf. Bowlers will be able to use it for practising later this year.
Further improvements to the park are on hold until phase two of the New Deal-funded BGEP is finalised. If agreed, the Council will receive New Deal money to improve the park in line with the plans set out in phase one of BGEP.
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