Arboretum revamp plan delayed
The bid for a multi-million pound refurbishment of Walsall Arboretum has been delayed again while council bosses look to secure enough cash for the project.
The bid for a multi-million pound refurbishment of Walsall Arboretum has been delayed again while council bosses look to secure enough cash for the project.
Plans for the £7.9 million transformation of the park are now not due to be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund until August, five months later than the original March date. It emerged in February that Walsall Council needed to secure £1.1 million itself for the whole proposed project to go ahead but it is still in the process of finding all "match funding".
When the scheme was delayed in March a new submission date for June was given. This has been put back to the end of the summer although the council has insisted a decision was always anticipated to be made in the autumn.
Residents are still being encouraged to comment on the scheme.
Louise Harris, Arboretum project manager, said: "The bid for the restoration programme will be submitted at the end of August. In the meantime the council is exploring match funding opportunities and awaiting the outcome of funding applications.
"We would people to continue giving us their feedback which they can do online by going to the www.walsall.gov.uk/arboretum website."
The Arboretum revamp project includes a visitor centre, restoring the Grade II-listed boathouse and bandstand, a youth play facility and a range of other landscaping work.
But it could be scaled back if the council fails to secure the full amount of funding.
The restoration is planned to take place between early 2010 and 2012 and council chiefs insist this timescale is not in jeopardy as a decision from the lottery is not due until the autumn.
The bid will be for around £4.7m. It was revealed last week scores of trees, including some which are believed to date back more than a 100 years, could be hacked down from the Arboretum.
A number of trees are in line for pruning or felling as part of the overhaul. Around 60 near the entrance, by the lake and near The Green have been earmarked.
Council chiefs said this was because some require surgery work, some could be removed on health and safety grounds while the future of others is being considered as part of the refurbishment plans.
