VOLUNTEERS are preparing for a new era in the proud history of the picturesque Beaumont Park.

The Friends of Beaumont Park, set up in 1998 to save the Victorian park from further decline, are planning a new visitor centre and tea room.

The current building has been cleared and is now being demolished.

Some £50,000 has been raised for new premises to house a cafe, kitchen and meeting room and the group hopes the new centre will be open by the end of November.

Mary Kenworthy, spokeswoman for the Friends said: “Footings are being put in by Actiform of Mirfield this week. Then, if everything goes to plan, the new building will be craned in the week commencing November 20. We are hoping to be up and running by late this month or early December.

“We have outgrown the old visitor centre so we are having one about twice the size on the same site, but the entrance will be through the hedge, not through the depot yard.

“Our grant bid to Biffa for £50,000 failed as they were oversubscribed so we approached Molly Walton and John Fletcher from Streetscene. The area committee and the Friends of Beaumont Park are paying for the building and Steetscene are organising the groundworks. We will be putting further money in to kit it out.

“Besides our normal activities we are in negotiation with Kirklees Adult Services who will be using the building which will enable us to open the visitor centre more often.”

The Friends of Beaumont Park will be contributing £23,000 towards the new centre with another £15,350 from Huddersfield Area Committee and £11,650 from central Kirklees Council funds.

The group wants to thank all the volunteers and supporters who have made the new centre possible.

The Friends’ next event will be the Carol Service at the Beaumont Park Bandstand on Sunday, December 9 (2.30pm-4pm) with Sellers International Youth Band and St Barnabas Choir. A lantern parade from the visitor centre to the bandstand will take place at 2.30pm.

Mulled wine, mince pies and refreshments will be on sale in the visitor centre and at the bandstand.

Two lantern-making sessions are planned for Sunday December 2 and Saturday December 8.

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