Park cash helps work (From Stourbridge News)

Park cash helps work

12:20pm Monday 5th February 2007 in Local

FRIENDS of Mary Stevens Park have received a £32,000 grant to enable them to start numerous projects around the grounds.

The park has already undergone a transformation with thousands being spent on a play area- courtesy of the Friends of the Park.

Norton Councillor Mike Attwood and Chairman of Friends of Mary Stevens Park put in an application for funding to Corey Environmental Trust of Britain last year and after months of waiting it was finally approved.

A £32,000 grant was given to the group providing that they matched it with ten per cent which would amount to £3,000.

Friends of Mary Stevens have also received two and half thousand pounds from Central Network to help with their proposed projects.

The money will go on electrical work to power a much needed pump for the lake which will help with oxygen levels in the water.

Cllr Mike Norton was aware of thousands of fish dying in the lake last summer due to the hot weather and the pump will help to prevent this happening again.

Part of the project also involves water testing and silt dredging to the lake- this would remove any trash and debris to create better water conditions for the fish.

Cllr Mike Norton said: "The Environmental agency recommended that the lake should only be dredged in certain proportions and not completely because of the fish."

The final part of the grant would be spent on the ironwork and railings which go round the perimeter of the park near Norton Road.

Cllr Norton added: "We are really pleased that we finally got the grant especially after all this time."

These projects are expected to start as soon as possible.