Watersports and weddings in 10-year plan for Sandwell park

Sandwell Council wants to increase visitor numbers to Sandwell Valley Country Park

A new watersports centre and a wedding venue are part of a 10-year plan to boost visitor numbers at a country park.

Sandwell Council has published a "masterplan" to improve Sandwell Valley Country Park in a bid to draw 200,000 people each year.

It also hopes changes will mean it can host more large-scale events.

The authority is asking the public for its views on the plan with consultation open until 29 January.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the masterplan includes a new pavilion, an improved visitor centre for weddings and events, a watersports centre, a history and heritage zone and a food education barn to promote healthy eating to families.

But there are no firm proposals to improve parking, roads or entrances and exits - with Sandwell Council saying "efforts should be made" to mark parking bays and improvements to traffic flow "should be explored."

There are also plans for new signs and e-bike charge points for Dartmouth Park in West Bromwich, cycle hire, a facelift for the town's pavilion, improvements to its mini golf course and an intention to bid for government money to replace the old all-weather pitch with a new multi-use facility.

Councillor Charn Singh Padda, cabinet member for leisure and tourism at Sandwell Council, said the park was "one the jewels in Sandwell's crown".

"It is a place that many of us have been visiting for years for leisure, sport or just to relax and we want to make sure that it can be enjoyed by Sandwell residents for generations to come," he said.