Published: Friday, 5th February, 2010 4:24pm

Derelict ground in £80,000 revamp

by Jonathan Kelly

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AN AMBITIOUS £80,000 plan to turn a run-down open space into a family park is a step closer.

For over a year a team of dedicated workers in Winnersh have been seeking approval and funding to transform the nearly derelict Arbor Meadows into a place for families to enjoy and rename it Winnersh Meadows.

Now their plans are seeing fruition as the Neighbourhood Action Group, which has been driving the project, has been told it is being recommended for £50,000 of National Lottery money and councils will make up the other £30,000.

Pat Rowell, NAG chairman, said: "The best news is that everyone is totally on board and wants to give something back to Winnersh, which has been neglected in terms of open space and Winnersh Meadows will be turned over to the residents."

By the middle of March the NAG should receive the official go-ahead from the lottery.

Mrs Rowell added: "I'm really pleased all the paperwork is done and the council have done their bit but I'll get really excited when I get the Lottery's go ahead."

John Southgate, chairman of Winnersh Parish Council, (WPC) said: "We have been told that the Lottery will agree to the proposal and it is expected that it will all go through soon. We are very keen on this project. It will be extremely good to get it back into a good state because it has had very little done to it recently."

The 10 hectare site off Arbor Lane was given to the borough council when Winnersh Triangle was completed 25 years ago, but since then it has fallen into disrepair and is barely used.

Once funding is in place, contractors will begin to plant trees and hedges, draw up new footpaths and provide seating before considering what else can be done to improve it.

At its meeting on Tuesday WPC will set its annual budget before deciding how much it can add to the scheme, but it is hoped to be around £9,000.

The borough council will pump in around £20,000 of section 106 cash from planning applications.