A newly formed voluntary group to help maintain and improve Clarence Park held its inaugural meeting. Friends groups have been formed for several parks and open spaces as a result of cuts to the council’s parks budget, which mean that the council now provides only a basic maintenance service. It is hoped that Clarence Park can now benefit from the many enthusiastic volunteers who have come forward.

Initial work discussed at the meeting included removing litter, cleaning and maintaining the pond and clearing leaves. The intention is to commence with a litter pick on 13th November. It was also considered that a larger project could be undertaken, such as the creation of a sensory garden.

Councillor Robert Payne attended the meeting and hopes to be active within the group. He said: “Local people really do care about the area in which we live. It is brilliant that a good number of people have put themselves forward to help with Clarence Park, which is an important asset to our local area. I am hopeful that this new group will bring about an improvement to the way the park is looked after and that it will be a real benefit to the community.”