Lottery invest in Leamington Gardens restoration project

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has approved a grant of £49,000 for Warwick District Council and the Friends of the Pump Room Gardens to prepare detailed plans for the restoration.

The district council and Friends group are now working with Warwickshire County Council to draw up the plans, as well as come up with new events for the gardens - for which the people of Warwick district will be asked for ideas.

Archie Pitts, chairman of the Friends group, said, “This grant shows that HLF thinks these gardens are worth restoring. This is a fantastic way to start the bicentenary year of the creation of the gardens.

“If we can show the restoration will be done according to the best principles, we have a good chance of obtaining substantial funding from HLF to carry out the work.”

District councillor Dave Shilton, responsible for policy on parks and gardens, said the £1million, if awarded, would be spent on improving drainage, adding more seats, resurfacing the paths, replanting the river bank and planting new trees to encourage wilflife.

Last summer the district council agreed to spend £100,000 on helping the Friends group apply for the grant and the Friends are only £30,000 away from raising the ‘match’ funding’ they committed to contributing. Anyone wishing to help should visit www.leamingtonsociety.org.uk