A PARK is set for a funding boost after it secured a place on Warrington Borough Council’s Parks Programme.

After months of talks with portfolio holder Cllr Kate Hannon and director of economic regeneration, growth and environment Andy Farrall, Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands has secured Longbarn Park a place on the scheme which falls under the capital programme Warrington means Business.

Cllr Lines-Rowlands says the capital plan will enable the park to reach its full potential with internal and external funding to give the site the opportunity to enhance its facilities and overall experience.

The main aim of the Parks Programme is to get the community involved in what facilities and kind of park they want and to ensure the Friends of Longbarn Park group has support.

Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands said: “I am very pleased to announce this appointment.

“This gives the community the opportunity to have a park we can be proud of.

"Longbarn Park already has great dog walking and fishing areas but we want to work together to make Longbarn Park better.”

The friends group has been trying to secure funding since its creation in October.

Jamie Gardner, secretary of Friends of Longbarn Park, said: “Friends of Longbarn Park are extremely happy to be finally placed on the parks programme. After setting up this group in October we have been trying to get the much-needed funding to develop and maintain the 14-acre site.

“This park was left by the wayside and also declassified as a park and was downgraded to a meadow.

“After the group formed we have had working parties that have cleared away all the intrusive overgrowth and also laid pipe work to help drain the excess water on the fields.

“The fields are now totally dry. We have high designs for the park and want to make it a park that our community is proud of."