New name chosen for park on ex-landfill site

The former Welbeck landfill site is being transformed into a country park

A country park being created on a former landfill site in Wakefield is to be called the Newlands Country Park after a public vote.

The park will be on the site of the former Welbeck landfill site, near Normanton.

Wakefield Council said members of the public had suggested the name and it had received almost 1,500 votes in a poll - more than half the total votes cast.

The council said the area was historically known as Newlands Park, with the Newlands Estate established by King John in the 13th Century and Newlands Hall being built in the 1700s.

The council said the park was being built in phases, with initial work focused on land it owned.

Later stages over the next 15 years would see the creation of more amenities, which could include a visitor centre and toilet facilities, the authority said.

'Mark area's history'

According to the council, some of the park was already open to the public.

As more land was released from the Welbeck landfill site, it would also be restored and made accessible to the public, with about 200 hectares of open green space available once completed, it said.

Jack Hemingway, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “I’m pleased to see the community come together to choose the name for their new local park.

"It’s great we can mark the area’s history, while creating something that residents can enjoy for generations to come."

Mr Hemingway said over 230 name suggestions were received from residents, and the council shortlisted four of them.

In the following public vote, which opted for Newlands Country Park, 3,200 votes were cast over a two-week period.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.