Plans for £730,000 revamp of park revealed

Hall Leys Park has won a number of Green Flag awards over the years

Plans to transform a park in Derbyshire as part of a £730,000 revamp project have been revealed.

Planned upgrades to Hall Leys Park, in Matlock, include a new skate park, refurbished pathways and new splashpads.

The project, announced by Derbyshire Dales District Council, is supported by a £450,737 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and £279,263 from the authority's capital reserves.

Work to improve the park is expected to be completed by March 2025.

The park's existing wooden skate park, which is 20 years old, will be completely replaced during the works.

The new skate park will be a "flood resilient stainless-steel structure with composite panels", the council said.

The skate park will be transformed with new equipment

A small paddling pool installed 15 years ago will be replaced by a more accessible splashpad.

The Broad Walk through the park will also be resurfaced.

The UKSPF funding set aside for the project had previously been allocated to the proposed conversion of the town's former market hall, which is now on hold.

The council approved a decision to reallocate the funding, which must be spent by the end of March 2025, at a meeting on Wednesday.

It also agreed to give £150,000 to support a project by Wirksworth Town Council to create a new park.