Opening hours pruned at Wolverhampton's jewel in crown
A Victorian conservatory described as a "jewel in the crown" of Wolverhampton will close to the public for two days a week as part of cost-cutting measures announced today.
The West Park conservatory first opened in 1896 and, since being refurbished a century later, it has been free to the public seven days a week, all year round.
The Grade II-listed building is home to rare and exotic plant species that cannot be found elsewhere in the historical green space on Park Road West.
But Wolverhampton City Council has announced plans to limit the conservatory's opening hours in a bid to save £27,000 a year. The plans have been described as "worrying" by members of the Friends of West Park group.
Secretary Adam Wood said: "It is something we are quite concerned with. It is one of the main heritage points and draws of the park. Having had the Heritage Lottery money and put a lot of time and effort into the park it is worrying to think the conservatory could be closed for two days a week."
Gardening enthusiast Ken Tudor, aged 67, has been visiting the conservatory for 45 years. He said: "It's a wonderful facility, an absolute jewel in the crown of Wolverhampton. It will be disappointing and a shame to have people wandering up there to find the doors locked."
Rob Willoughby, the council's assistant director for community services, said: "We have to find savings of around £100 million over the next five years and so we are rightly looking very closely at everything we do.
"We will be working hard to minimise any impact on the public, and over the next few weeks we will be consulting with visitors about which days they would prefer the conservatory to be open."
Ian Lamb, chairman of the friends group, said he hoped the attraction would remain open on weekends. He added: "Some days you might get 20 or 30 people there. It's still important for it to be open."
