RESIDENTS in Wickford will see a boost to their neighbourhood park if the council's £1 million application for funding is accepted.
Plans have been put forward for restoration of Wickford Memorial Park, Rettendon View, with Basildon Borough Council set to apply for over £1 million from lottery funding and the Veolia Pitsea Marches Trust. The park, created in 1949, is the largest memorial park in the UK and recently saw the creation of a new war memorial.
The park commemorates the lives of men from Wickford, Runwell and the surrounding area who gave their lives in the two world wars and later conflicts. If Basildon Borough Council is successful in its bid to secure funding, the park will see restoration of the Avenue of Remembrance, refurbishment to the offices and pavilion and improvements to access.
Stephen Newman, chairman of the Wickford War Memorial Association, said: "These improvements are something we've been championing for six years and will benefit the whole park.
"In 2011 we completed the first stage – a memorial at the front of the park – but it doesn't end there. One of the areas that will be restored is the Avenue of Remembrance, a tree-lined path with each tree representing a soldier who was killed. The trees have been damaged through vandalism and storms and so will be replaced."
Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, said: "This is an ambitious project, but through the funding and the support of local residents is one which is feasible.
"The nature of the park and its history and heritage has allowed us the opportunity to apply for funding from the Veolia Pitsea Marches Trust and lottery funding and should we be successful will enable us, in partnership with local interest groups, to meet our ambitions and create a real jewel in the crown for the borough."
Councillor Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts, said: "Consultation over the past three years has shown there is substantial support from the Wickford community to sustain a programme of restoration of the park, and if the funding bid is successful I believe the project will help create a park that residents and future generations can be proud of."
Mr Blake added: "As well as improvements to the visual landscape of the park we are also looking at the long term, and through the project will be creating a programme of sustainable management and maintenance of the park, meaning it will continue to improve and evolve for years to come."
If the funding bids are successful the project is set to begin in March 2014.
