Archive Council News

This page is a news release published by Wrexham County Borough Council.
Content Author: pressoffice@wrexham.gov.uk

17.05.07

Heritage Lottery Fund Awards £504,000 to Regenerate Ponciau Banks

Ponciau Banks Park, the only large public space in Ponciau and Rhosllannerchrugog, has received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the park to its former splendour of the 1950’s period. This is the decade when the park was considered at its most complete and vibrant.

The Park owes its existence to the ingenuity and hard work of local miners, the Community and Students of Peace Group in the 1920’s and 30’s. The recently announced Heritage Lottery Fund award of £504,000 is seen as an important contribution to the re-generation of the Cultural Heritage of the Rhosllannerchrugog and Ponciau areas.

The funding will allow Wrexham County Borough Council to start work on the re-development of the park this summer.

The proposal, which will be of great benefit to the local Residents and Children of the area, includes plans to renovate the bandstand and the installation of a viewing amphitheatre, which will be used for outdoor events throughout the year.

The refurbishment will also include improvements to the existing pathways including new street lighting and benches together with additional paths to improve accessibility for all. There are also plans to enhance and upgrade the present recreation and sporting facilities, including the restoration of the tennis courts.

Proposals to return Ponciau Park to its original glory also include the restoration of boundary walling and upper terrace area together with the creation of a celebration entrance with stone sculptural pieces relating to the parks history and place within the community. The enhancements will include extensive areas of new shrub and tree planting. Anti-vandalism and CCTV measures will also be introduced.

A park development officer will be employed to deliver an events, education and interpretation programme.

Jennifer Stewart, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for Wales, says: “Parks and gardens are an important part of our heritage in Wales. Everyone should have access to a park, whether they want to use it as a place to meet, a place to play sport, or just somewhere to relax. Ponciau Park will be an invaluable community area for all members of the public and be a great boost to the regeneration of Rhosllannerchrugog.”

Commenting on the award Local Councillors Aled Roberts and Paul Pemberton agreed that the funding was great news and absolutely essential to ensure the project to regenerate the area went ahead.

"This is an exciting development for the area and builds on the investment in other schemes which aims to provide leisure facilities for families and older people alike. The local Friends of Ponciau Banks are to be thanked for their hard work in bringing this project to fruition and we are very grateful for the HLF's support in providing this funding. We can now all look forward to progressing the project to its completion."

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