Historic park in line for £3.2m revamp

An historic Black Country park that was the subject of a bitter wrangle between Black Country and Birmingham council chiefs is set to be given a multi-million pound revamp.

Sandwell Council chiefs will apply for £255,322 of lottery funding to refurbish the Grade II-listed Lightwoods House and restore Lightwoods Park in Smethwick.

The authority will provide funding of £53,800 and a project manager post will be created to oversee the work, if the bid is approved.

The application is the first phase of grander plans to bid for £3.2m lottery funding to overhaul the park.

If approved, the funding will cover the refit of Lightwoods House and work to pathways, benches and fences at the park.

The bandstand would be refurbished and the Shakespeare Garden improved, under the plans.

Councillor Steve Eling, the borough's finance chief and an Abbey ward councillor, said: "This is the first phase. You ask for a small amount at first and then ask for the full amount. That's how lottery funding works.

"We will be applying for £3.2m in total.

"The money will cover the restoration of the house and major improvements to the remainder of the park."

Work would help bring benefits of the park to residents and make the most of the potential for Lightwoods House, Councillor Eling added.

He said: "The house is Grade-II listed and has lots of potential because it's so large. It could be used as a wedding venue, rooms could be let out, and used for services.

"A children's centre could even go in there.

"I'm really looking forward to cracking on with this. There's been a lot of interest and I knew the people of Bearwood would have a high level of enthusiasm for this."

Contractors Bendcrete are on £84,928 worth of work upgrading the skate park at the park, which was labelled a "death trap" by campaigners after falling into disrepair.

As part of the upgrade the park is also set to get seven new dog litter bins, while the tennis courts will also be resurfaced. Half the area will be a multi-games area while the remaining half will be a tennis course with a steel net.

Visitors will be kept up-to-date with the restoration on notice boards and the council is tendering for companies to carry out repairs to the damaged roof and windows at the house.

The work signals the beginning of the revamp at the park which has recently come back under the control of Sandwell Council after years of being run by Birmingham City Council. The park borders Birmingham along the Hagley Road.