Parks to be revamped as city's £7.5m plans backed

Work aimed at transforming two "treasured" parks in Preston has been given the go-ahead.

The city council's planning committee approved the £7.5m redevelopment of Moor Park and Waverley Park.

The Grade II*-listed Moor Park will get an improved playground, a better changing pavilion, and see a long-forgotten bridge being rebuilt across the Serpentine Lake. A wildflower meadow will also be created.

Waverley Park, meanwhile, will get a pump track and a new football pavilion to replace the current one which is set for demolition. There will also be three revamped football pitches.

The work is set to start this summer, the council said.

Councillor Amber Afzal, cabinet member for planning regulation, said: "We are delighted these plans have been passed and we can get started on the much-needed improvements to our city's treasured green spaces."

Councillor Freddie Bailey, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said it would also "help to increase outdoor activity and [improve] the health and well-being of our communities".

He said the investment would help deliver "new, higher quality and more accessible sports and play facilities, better footpaths and landscaping to enjoy, in a safer environment".

Both schemes will be funded by the government.

They were part of a £20m bid made under the previous government's Levelling Up fund.

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