Special report: Victoria Park is splendid space

Jun 1 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Splendid park for the public to use

Compo, Clegg and Co. have enjoyed many a rest here – and it featured in the episode entitled “Who’s That Dancing With Nora Batty Then?”

Local walkers are very much aware of the park’s significance.

As one put it: “I half expected to come across Howard and Marina peeping out from behind a bush, pretending to be bird-spotting or to find Foggy pouring out his interminable jungle-warfare memoirs to some poor bloke who’d had the misfortune to sit next to him on a bench.”

In May 2007, the park hosted the Barnsley Samba Band – no less – as part of the Holmfirth Folk Festival.

In fact, the park was central to the festival.

As Holme Valley Parish Council put it in their review of the event: “A highlight of the street entertainment was the parade through Holmfirth on the Saturday afternoon, starting at the Memorial Park, and ending with a colourful display at Victoria Park.

“The streets were packed with onlookers and despite the rain, which descended at times, Victoria Park was well attended and the audience simply put up their brollies and continued to enjoy the show!”

And new life has been breathed in the park.

Last June, the media reported on the “dramatic renovation” that was planned for the park.

It reported: “As part of the regeneration programme for the town, £111,000 has been spent rejuvenating the park, to bring it back to life and to attract more people to use it.

“Funding of £71,000 came from the Holme Valley South Area Committee and £40,000 from Kirklees Parks and Open Spaces.

“The refurbishment has seen the removal of a vandalised shelter, the replacement of the old concrete terraces with grass, the resurfacing of the central promenade and refurbishment of the viewing platform with enhanced paving and new fencing and seats.

“Vegetation has been thinned and removed to open views of the town and surrounding countryside from various vantage points.

“In addition, the play area has been completely re-equipped and resurfaced with the latest safety surface improving its accessibility and inclusiveness for users of a wide range of abilities.”

And in a statement, Holme Valley councillors Ken Sims, Nigel Patrick and Donald Firth, commented: “The Area Committee is delighted to have been able to help breathe new life into the park which has been transformed from an under-used area that suffered from anti-social behaviour into an attractive town-centre facility.

“The public response to the scheme has been very positive and the play area is now a very popular feature.”