Work starting on £2.6m park plan (From Dudley News)

Work starting on £2.6m park plan

12:00pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News

WORK has begun at Dudley’s Priory Park as part of its £2.6m Heritage Lottery funded transformation.

As part of the major makeover project, which is set to be completed by the summer, the park pavilion will be redeveloped to include new public toilets and a living roof.

Construction work has begun in earnest, as the retaining wall behind the building is removed to make way for a new extension and courtyard area.

The existing building, which is located near the tennis courts, will also be underpinned.

Other work in the enhancement programme includes the installation of lighting in the historical ruins, planting of tree avenues, new signage and notice boards and repairs to path surfaces.

New public artwork, including a statue of Dudley-born Wimbledon tennis champion Dorothy Round, will also be added to the grade II listed park to complement the Medieval Cluniac Monks floor mosaic and carved oak statue, near the lily pond, which were both restored to their former glory last year by their original artists.

Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and culture, said: “I’m delighted that work is getting underway at Priory Park, it will enable us to preserve and restore this beautiful green space which we know is valued by the local community.

”We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we undertake this important work.”

For more information about the project visit dudley.gov.uk/priorypark.