Expansion of city park gets go-ahead

A "much-loved" city park is to be expanded, with tens of thousands of pounds expected to be spent to build new facilities there.

Plans to revitalise West Bank Park in the Holgate area of York have been approved by the city council.

The site will be extended onto land formerly used for park keeper accommodation which was demolished last year following a fire in 2016.

A report seen by councillors said £83,000 left over from an insurance payout could be spent to build new toilets and play equipment, as well as being used to promote the park's history and help maintain standards that helped it earn its Green Flag status, which recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

The local community would also be heavily involved in planning for the future use of the land and how the money was to be spent, the report added.

At a meeting on Thursday to approve the plans, councillors heard the plot of land had been separated from the rest of the park by a metal fence in the early 1990s following its acquisition by the authority, but that would now be removed.

Holgate councillor Kallum Taylor welcomed the expansion, saying the plans would "breathe new life into a much-loved and well-used park and relieve the squeeze on space in that area".

"I'm very supportive of thinking outside the box when it comes to how the money is spent," he said.

Taylor added that there had already been various expressions of interest in using a share of the money, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Chris Webb, from the Yorkshire Gardens Trust, who lives in Holgate, also welcomed the plans.

"This will show residents and park authorities elsewhere that York recognises parks and gardens have been key components of cities throughout history," he said.

In 2007, the park keeper's property was let to a social housing provider after it fell out of use.

Stables and a garage previously stood on the site, dating back to the West Bank Park's earlier use as a family home after Sir James Hamilton bought it in 1921.

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