Town’s Victorian park set for further improvement work

Kirklees Council has responded positively to a request by the Friends of Beaumont Park for work to reinstate the tarmac surface of the park’s central driveway and for the wrought-iron railings to be repaired and repainted.

It is estimated the cost of the new tarmac will be £60,000 and a further £20,000 will be spent on the railings. The work will be undertaken by the council.

Councillors are expected to support the funding proposal at a meeting of the Huddersfield area committee on Wednesday.

The park, which was opened in October 1883 by Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (the youngest son of Queen Victoria), has undergone a big makeover in recent years.

The bandstand has been restored to its former glory and other features of the 21-acre park have also been improved, including the lower pond, the lower cascade and the lower gate.

The restoration of the cascade and fountain, completed in 2007, was funded by Kirklees Council (£138,000) and the Friends of Beaumont Park (£10,880).

The Friends is a voluntary group that works with the council to regenerate the park. For more information, or to contact members, go to www.fobp.co.uk