Central Park work will be over three years late

COUNCIL APOLOGISES FOR DELAYS WITH UPGRADE

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

The council began the ambitious project to create ponds and a wildlife area in late 2022

(PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL)

WORK on the troubled £4m upgrade of Plymouth’s Central Park is progressing but the council said it still has “more to do” after heavy machinery caused damage.

The authority is aiming to have the ambitious project completed “before next summer” - which would be more than three and a half years after work started.

One resident, neighbouring the park, told The Herald they think next summer will be the earliest the scheme will be ready.

Residents have been less than impressed with the speed or quality of the work and have, at times, branded it a “disaster? a “shambles” and “an unsightly mess”

In an update on the project, Plymouth City Council thanked park users and neighbours for their patience. It said there was still work to be done to “open everything again” and said there would even be a “lull” in the work this autumn.

Nevertheless, there has been progress and the council said the heavy earthworks that were taking place on the playing pitches and Reservoir Field have now been completed and the contractor has left the site completely.