Vital update on 'eyesore' Central Park upgrade

'We are beholden to the weather'

The long-running revamp of Central Park won’t be completed for almost another year yet. Work has restarted on the stalled upgrade after the area was branded a “moonscape” and “eyesore” by residents in neighbouring streets.

But Plymouth City Council has now said the project won’t be completed until “late summer 2025” - almost three years after it started. The council has, however, stressed it has got enough cash to finish the work.

In the answer to a question from former city councillor and now alderman Dr John Mahony, the council said: “The main construction works will be completed very soon, however we are beholden to the weather and seasons regarding the tree planting and seeding – at the very latest these will all be completed early spring 2025 and then we need to allow for a three to six month ‘settling in period’. The completion therefore is estimated to be late summer 2025.

“During the settling in period some of the temporary fencing will need to stay in place to protect the new plants. In relation to the budget I can assure we have sufficient resources to complete the works.”

The council began an ambitious project to create ponds and a wildlife area at the Barn Park area of Central Park in late 2022. The authority has been constructing a network of ponds and water features to capture rainwater, ease flooding and create a home for wildlife.

But it was delayed by this year’s wet weather and a lack of machinery and contractors left just before last Christmas having completed the main earthworks and pipe installations. Park users were left unhappy with the state of the park after the work stalled.

On social media the project has been called a “disaster”, a “shambles” and “an unsightly mess” by some commentators. And nearly 3,000 people signed a petition urging the council to reopen the fenced-off areas of the park.

Exactly 1,790 people signed an e-petition on the council’s website and organisers said an additional 1,300 people had signed a paper petition. This meant it surpassed the 2,500 names needed for the future of the park and its upgrade work to be discussed by a scrutiny committee.

Dr Mahoney submitted a question to last month’s full council meeting describing the area around the central park ponds as a “mess” and asking about the scheme’s completion date and cost.

In its answer, the council said: “We were always planning on restarting the project in April. However, after a prolonged period of exceptionally wet weather, when the better weather did eventually arrive, various operational issues, including the availability of machinery and subcontractors, meant further delays.

“The Central Park ponds did, however, restart in July with a substantial tidy up, the cutting back of overgrown pathways and repairs to fencing. The main contractor started on site on August 27 and has made great progress.

“The football field is now at engineering levels and is ready for topsoiling, the granite setts are being laid in Coronation Avenue to complete the last few metres of drainage and Reservoir Field is being levelled and shaped ready for seeding. The teams are also working weekends when the weather and staff capacity allow to ensure the main construction works are completed as quickly as possible.

“Landscaping works to the South Pond, Swales and Mawsons Field including the Stepping Stones and a reduction in the wooden fencing will restart this month. In terms of a firm completion date, as this will be dependent on how long it takes for the landscaping to embed it is difficult to be specific.”

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