THE FUTURE of Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park and its multi-million pound restoration is up for debate.

A meeting has been called to discuss how £5.4m, granted to revamp the Victorian park, will be spent.

And Friends of Greenhead Park (FGP) is inviting you to have your say on next Saturday, March 7 (11am).

Issues for debate include lighting for the park (so far no provision for lighting has been made) and whether CCTV will extend to streets around the park’s entrances.

Campaigners are also concerned about how to reduce the damage caused by large vehicles from fun fairs and travelling shows. Other issues include maintenance and litter control.

The meeting takes place at the park’s maintenance depot training room by the putting green near the Gledholt Road/Park Drive roundabout.

Park manager Robert Whittaker will attend.

FGP is a campaign group concerned with the welfare and uses of Greenhead Park.

Renovation began on the park, which was opened in 1884, in October when the dilapidated glasshouse at the bottom was demolished.

Plans for the initiative, which is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Kirklees Council, includes restoration of the Grade II listed conservatory, a restaurant and coffee shop, creation of a new lake, boundary railings and repairs to all the footpaths and steps.

The buildings, fountains and features around the park will also be restored and there will be a new play area, improvements to the tennis courts and events area.

FGP committee member Graham Tayler said: “Generally FGP is very supportive of what the council is doing.

“There are important details which have yet to be bottomed out and they are details which members of the public should have some input on.

“There’s no plan to light the park. The council is going to put railings around the park and lock it at nightfall hence they say there’s no need to light it. I think people will have a view about that.

“We simply feel that issues like this need to be discussed.

“The trucks and big ride-carrying vehicles put a tremendous amount of weight on the channelling, kerbing and the turf. We want to discuss whether these heavy vehicles belong in the park at all.”