UCS CIVILS APPOINTED TO RESTORE GRADE II LISTED PARK 

UCS Civils has won a £4.9 million contract to regenerate a Grade II listed park in the heart of Rotherham, following the success of a similar £3.5 million project to restore The Walks Grade II listed park in King’s Lynn.

Clifton Park, which dates back to the 18 th century, is owned by Rotherham Borough Council and has a range of facilities and features including a bandstand, cenotaph, fountain and memorial gardens, rock garden, sports areas and children’s play areas, the majority of which need upgrading.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £4.5 million to the council to help pay for the proposals which have been drawn up by the council in partnership with the Friends of Clifton Park and other community representatives.

The aim is to return the park to its former glory, improve access and introduce new facilities such as a management, community and bowls centre.

A new children’s activity area which will include a water play area to replace the existing 70 year-old paddling pool and a skate park will also be created. These improvements are receiving additional funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families through the ‘Play Pathfinder’ programme.

The 23-hectare park attracts an estimated one million visitors per year and is a main pedestrian commuter route to and from the town centre.

As part of the project UCS Civils is working closely with the council to raise awareness of the works by visiting local primary schools to warn pupils about the dangers of playing on or around building sites and taking part in a family fun day and project launch event at Clifton Park on 11 th October.

UCS Civils also manned a stand exhibiting the proposals at the Rotherham Show at Clifton Park to encourage visitors to ask questions and give feedback on the scheme.

The 12-month project, which is joint venture between UCS Civils and sister company Linpave Building, is due to get under way later this month.

Managing Director of UCS Civils Mark Murphy said: “This project is an important strategic opportunity for UCS Civils owing to its size and location. We have a base in Chesterfield in addition to our main headquarters in Rand, Lincolnshire and we are keen to gain more work in the M1 corridor area between Nottingham and Leeds.

“Thanks to the success of the project to restore the Walks in King’s Lynn, which included building a new park management centre along with the complete refurbishment and restoration of a 15 th-century chapel, UCS Civils has built up a reputation for heritage and conservation works of this nature.”