Staffordshire beauty spot in line for major overhaul

Chasewater Country Park, near Burntwood, could also house an education centre and community garden.

It was recently taken over by Staffordshire County Council – and bosses are drawing up plans for its future.

Until now details of the revamp have not been made public. But the council has revealed a series of options for how the land could be used to attract more visitors and boost income.

One of the plans is for the site to become a venue for water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, triathlon and BMX.

Another is to build an 'outreach centre' for one or more schools or colleges in the area. And bosses have also raised the idea of a community farm, gardens, orchards, allotments and gardens.

Council chiefs will make a decision in the coming weeks over which options to pursue. They will also look at whether a new group could be set up to look after the park or whether management could be transferred to a private firm.

A report by county council parks chief Mark Winnington says of the sports venue option: "Chasewater will become one of the country's best sports facilities and competition venues for water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, triathlon and BMX.

"It will offer facilities suitable for international competition while preserving essential green space for the local community. The overall aim will be to increase access to outdoor sports for all, irrespective of age, gender, ability, income, ethnicity, etc. Outreach programmes will provide equipment and training for the public and the reservoir will become a Centre of Watersports Excellence."

However, the council admits some users of the park may be opposed and the costs may be too high. The report also says South Staffordshire College or Birmingham University could be interested in the education centre development.

It adds: "The transfer of Chasewater provides an ideal opportunity to test alternative ways of running country parks; by working with external partners and the tenants on the park; an asset that is fit for the future and provides a blueprint for the future operation of the country park estate will be developed."

The park is set across 890 acres, with a reservoir at its heart.

Lichfield District Council inherited the country park in 1994 following a local authority boundary change.

The county council already managed the visitor centre and enterprise centre and has now taken on the whole park.