WORKERS are finally to start a huge restoration project at a Huddersfield park.
Kirklees Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund are spending £5.4m revamping Greenhead Park.
Hutchinson Demolition will begin work next week, tearing down the glasshouses behind the conservatory and the toilet block next to the paddling pool.
Both buildings have become eyesores in recent years and park manager Robert Whittaker believes the demolition will bring immediate improvements.
The conservatory, which is a listed building, will no be demolished. Instead the rotting timer and glass will be replaced and the building eventually used to house small-scale events such as exhibitions.
A restaurant, to be run by Kirklees Council’s in-house caterers, will be built on the site of the glasshouses while the area of the disused toilet blocks will be landscaped.
The major renovation – including work on a new lake – is set to start early next year. It is thought it will take up to 14 months.
Some areas will be off limits to visitors while the work is being done.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged £3.75m to the plan, while Kirklees will spend £1.6m.
As well as the £300,000 restaurant, £100,000 will be invested upgrading the gates and £240,000 will be spent on reinstating the ornamental lake.
The work is expected to take 18 months and will cause major disruption.
