Council proposing improvements to Birkenhead Park facilities

Jan 13 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Council proposing improvements to Birkenhead Park facilities

IMPROVEMENTS to sports facilities and bowling greens in Birkenhead Park are in the pipeline.

Councillors are being asked this week how the remaining £200,000 pledged by Wirral Council towards the park’s restoration scheme should be spent.

Director of regeneration Alan Stennard is proposing the money is used for football pitch improvements (£70,000), cricket pitch improvements (£30,000) and bowling green improvements (£20,000).

Another £80,000 would be spent on the Boothby grounds tennis court area.

In a report, Mr Stennard said: “The area (Boothby grounds) needs perimeter fencing and improvements to the courts.

“It is proposed that six or eight of the former tennis courts be restored to tennis use and two or four be converted to a different sport or activity.

“This will be in order to increase diversity of provision and thereby increase the use of the area as a whole.”

Mr Stennard said the proposal would be subject to community consultation.

He said Balaclava, St Mary’s and Night Pasture football pitches had the greatest drainage problems and is proposing a land drainage scheme for cricket pitches.

An improved irrigation system will be installed under bowling greens to keep turf alive in periods of drought.