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Fort Royal Update


I am bitterly disappointed at not getting the HLF bid, however am now optimistic that the original plans of improving the play area and the entrance to the park will now get done quicker something the residents have always wanted as a key priority.

Worcester Standard Article
AMBITIOUS plans to breathe new life into an historic city park have suffered a setback after it emerged the project had failed in its bid to secure £1million in lottery funding.
Worcester City Council had hoped to win the backing of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help cover the cost of a major overhaul of Fort Royal Park on Wylds Lane which stands on one of the key sites of the English Civil War.
But the council and its partners were disappointed to discover the bid had failed and they must now decide what parts of the project can still be pursued.
The council has already pledged £200,000 from its own budget towards improvements to the park to help celebrate its great historical significance and links to the 1651 Battle of Worcester, the final major conflict of the Civil War.
The lottery bid had included plans to remove the existing run-down play area and replace it with a new play trail, themed to reflect the park’s rich history and to create separate play spaces for young and older children.
A new crossing point on Wylds Lane to link the park to the Commandery was also included in the plans.
A city council spokesman said while they were disappointed to miss out on the HLF bid they would still be able to deliver significant improvements to the park.
“Worcester Porcelain Museum’s recent successful bid - plus our own £1.8 million project to revamp Gheluvelt Park three years ago - mean that the city has had considerable support from HLF and we respect their decision to award funding to another project on this occasion,” he said.
“We realise this will come as a blow to all those who were involved in and supported the bid. However, the good news is that we still have £200,000 allocated in the council’s budget and the project team will be meeting shortly to decide how to take this forward.”
Councillor Jabba Riaz (Cons/Cathedral), who has campaigned for the park to be given a facelift, said it was vital the council pressed ahead with improving Fort Royal despite missing out on the Lottery cash.
He said the park’s main entrance, children’s play area and creating a picnic area for families should be among the priorities.


Read more: Historic park misses out on Lottery cash | Worcester Standard 

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