Ashton Gardens: grand opening
News article
Ashton Gardens
The ‘jewel in the crown’ of Fylde’s parks will be officially opened on Friday 7 May after a £2m refurbishment.
Civic VIPs and guests will be out in force at Ashton Gardens at 3pm on Friday 7 May for the grand opening of the restored park.
Millions of people have enjoyed visiting the park since it was opened in 1874. The park’s new look restores it to its 19th century splendour, complete with ornate railings that were taken away for armaments production in World War Two.
Centrepiece of the scheme is the resited Ashton Institute building, a colonial-style pavilion that has been moved 150 yards and rebuilt between – and behind – the refurbished East and West Lodges.
But there will be much more – new path surfaces, the refurbished war memorial, spruced-up bridges and a toddlers’ play area.
Clare Platt, Fylde Council’s director of Community Services, said: “Millions of holidaymakers and residents have enjoyed the park over the years – and this work returns it to its Edwardian heyday.
“The quality of our parks is very important for Fylde Council. The work we are celebrating now will last until well into the next century.”
It will be heated by two 500ft-deep boreholes. The system works on basic refrigeration techniques: heat is extracted from the soil and rock before being concentrated for use in the building.
One of the gate lodges will be used by St Annes Town Council and one will be used as an information centre.
Clare added: “Both lodges and the new railings will form an impressive main entrance to the park.
“It has taken us 12 months to do the actual work – but a total of five years’ planning and raising the money from various sources.
“It is now a park of which everyone in Fylde can be proud.”
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