Earlier this year the Parish Council (PC) applied to the Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP) Landscape & Cultural Heritage Fund for a grant to undertake works to improve various Staveley village assets. Copgrove is unfortunately outside the grant area. We are pleased to announce that our application for the following has been approved.
1. Works in the area of the Pinfold and Jubilee Recreation Field. This will involve clearing the dead trees, overgrown hedges, weeds and brambles, replanting of hedgerows and lifting of vegetation together with the removal of the ivy from the pinfold and replacement of the pinfold gate. Some new trees will be planted in the Jubilee Recreation Field and some old and damaged fencing will be removed. This works aim to restore and enhance these areas, making them an asset to be proud of and easier for all to visit, use and enjoy.
2. In the area of the village green east, we will be refurbishing the phone box, which houses the public defibrillator. We will also be replacing the recently removed Lime tree on the village green west, in front of the Royal Oak, with an oak tree.
3. In addition to these works, the PC has also been awarded funds to replace the once grand estate fencing along Main Street, on your left as you leave Staveley heading towards Copgrove. We will also be undertaking work on the avenue of magnificent trees beside the fencing, with a view to improving their safety and longevity, plus in filling where a few trees have been lost.
In our view, this significant project will vastly improve the entrance to the village and restore a heritage asset to its former glory. The self seeded hedge plants will be removed so that, together with the lifting of some branches, the junction with Wath Lane will be made safer through improved visibility. Whilst removing the old fence, we aim to remove some of the soil which has accumulated on the field edge and restore the width of the footpath along that route. This too will improve pedestrian and vehicle safety.
When Stuart Barton starts the work on removing the fence we will need some volunteers to help with things such as digging, traffic management and general support and although full details of the grant funding are still to be received, we know some additional fund raising for this project will be required. We look forward to your help and participation in this project. More details will follow next month.
