The Padiham Express, with Friends of Memorial Park, town's civic leaders, councillors and officers from Burnley Council, who are due to submit the bid next month, are calling on residents to lend their support.

Memorial Park is one of eight North-West projects competing for cash under the Heritage Lottery Fund's Parks For People scheme and only two will receive funding.

The bid will be handed to the Heritage Lottery Fund at the end of September with a decision expected in March.

Mayor of Padiham Coun. Mark Jinkinson said: "Memorial Park is Padiham's hidden jewel and it has the potential to be one of the flagship parks in the borough. The more people show their support, the more chance we've got of being successful."

Petitions will soon be available to sign in Padiham and you can show your support by sending off a coupon printed inside today's Padiham Express.

Plans included in the bid show a new nautical-themed play area for children of all ages, new toilets in the upper park, development of the outdoor performance space for music and theatre productions, a greater range of events and activities for the community.

Also included in the proposals will be tree and woodland management to improve views into and out of the park, improved security, sigs and park furniture and improved parking.

Organisers also hope some of the cash could be used to make sections of the River Calder more accessible for water activities.

Coun. Andy Tatchell, who is on the steering group for the scheme, said: "The project that has been envisaged for Memorial Park is an extremely important one in line with the other projects for the Linear Park and Padiham Leisure Centre it makes kind of a horseshoe which would take Padiham to a different level."


n To back the bid, please fill in the special coupon on page 7