Play park takeover will help attract families to Whorlton

A THREE-year wait to secure the future of a village play park has finally reached a successful conclusion.  Whorlton’s play area, behind the village hall, has sat overgrown and closed during that time while legal wrangling over its ownership has dragged on.
But an agreement with Whorlton Hall care home owners, The Danshell Group, means the park and a patch of land beside it now belongs to Whorlton and Westwick Parish Council.
Former parish chairman Cllr George Stastny was thrilled the years of hard work to secure the park had paid off.
He said: “It’s tremendous. It will be double purpose for a play area and recreation, perhaps with a couple of benches and a picnic table.
“It was very generous of them.”
The parish council’s lease on the play park expired three years ago forcing its closure to the public.
But with the documents signed off, the door is now open for renovation work so the park can cater for children and adults alike.
Whorlton’s long awaited neighbourhood plan is also nearing completion – charting the path for the next 20 years in the village.
Cllr Stastny explained how the two events tied together.
He said: “In the neighbourhood plan we are trying to attract families to the village and this is all part of it by providing some facilities.”
A £100 deal for the park was signed off at a parish meeting last Tuesday (May 30).
However, the parish council has been required to stump up for four figure legal costs.
Cllr Stastny said changes to the recreation area would be “modest” and the council would be looking for grants in future.
Cllr Roger Foster praised Cllr Stastny for his work behind the scenes.
He added: “George has been the leader on this – he has put a lot of time and effort into it.
“I think we will change it because it’s only a small churchyard.”
A referendum will be held in the village on June 29 to decide whether the village wishes to adopt the new neighbourhood plan.