Plymouth’s Central Park Project Faces Setbacks Due to Bad Weather
Plymouth’s Central Park project is facing delays from winter weather, but work continues as the council assures progress is being made.
Plymouth, Central Park, Wildlife, Weather, Construction, Community
Plymouth: The Central Park project is experiencing some hiccups thanks to the winter weather. The £3 million revamp is still in progress, but the rain has made things tricky. The council is working hard, and they’re optimistic about the wildlife returning.
They’ve been busy removing and repositioning fencing to make the park more accessible. However, they’re struggling to move a lot of earth on the playing fields. The council recently updated everyone, saying there’s still a long way to go.
Last month, they acknowledged the delays and the frustration it’s caused. They get it—people are fed up with the mess and the wait. But they’re confident the project is back on track and should wrap up this spring.
In their latest update, the council mentioned that contractors have done quite a bit of work around the south pond. They’ve listened to park users and made some changes, like repositioning fencing and improving access to Mawsons Field.
They’ve even added new steps and made the muddy paths easier to navigate. Plus, they’ve completed all the shrub and tree planting in that area. It’s nice to hear that ducks and a grey heron have moved in too!
But it’s not all smooth sailing. The spokesperson noted that they haven’t made much headway on the playing pitch above the north pond due to the weather. They need to shift a lot of earth, and it’s just not feasible right now.
As soon as the weather clears up, they’ll get back to work. They appreciate everyone’s patience and believe that some areas are starting to look like they envisioned. Still, they know there’s a lot left to do.
Last year, a petition with 3,000 signatures highlighted the delays and mess, with residents calling parts of the park an “eyesore.” The council is aiming for a spring completion, but they’ve mentioned a six-month settling period, pushing the overall finish to late summer 2025.
The ambitious project kicked off in late 2022, aiming to create ponds and a wildlife area. They secured over £3 million for this phase, but wet weather and contractor issues have caused delays.
Park users have expressed their dissatisfaction, labeling the project a “disaster” on social media. The petition to reopen fenced-off areas gained traction, surpassing the required signatures for discussion in December.