The £1.6m regeneration of Newark’s Sconce and Devon Park is officially complete.
District council chairman Mr Tom Bickley unveils the new-look Sconce and Devon Park. (270710MW3-7)
The chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Mr Tom Bickley, on Tuesday cut a ribbon to unveil the end result.
The work, which started in August last year, was done in four stages.
The park, home to the Queen’s Sconce, one of the finest remaining earthworks of the English Civil War, now boasts a visitors’ centre with a ranger’s office, toilets and a café.
A bridge allows easier access to the sconce — a scheduled ancient monument. Footpaths have been resurfaced and planting and landscaping have been carried out.
Mr Bickley said: “I think it is looking superb. I have been walking in this park for 13 years and I have seen the progress that has been made.”
The district council’s parks and amenities officer, Mr Phil Beard, said: “There’s no denying that this project has helped to enhance the appearance and accessibility of the park, encourage and involve more users and helped to conserve and improve the Queen’s Sconce.”
The sconce was a key defensive position for Royalist forces, offering a 360º field of fire, and was never taken.
The park ranger, Mr Peter Dixon, said he was pleased with the regeneration work.
“The feedback I have received from people has been positive. People have said it is excellent, and what a great job has been done,” he said.
Most of the money was provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which gave £1.13m. The rest came from the district council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Wren, Veolia Environmental Trust, the Alliance Sub-regional Strategic Partnership and the Friends of Sconce and Devon Park.
Mr Tony Parker, of the Friends group, said: “The park is being used — that is the main thing. Children are on the playground and we have got walkers, cyclists and joggers all using the park. It is a good facility for the town.”
