Park plan '˜could help with skills training'

Councillors will be asked to give the go-ahead for a new park in Moortown at a meeting next week.

The park will be opened on the former Allerton Grove sports ground which has been partially developed for new housing.

The developer behind the new homes agreed to give Leeds City Council £500,000 to help fund the creation of a park.

Planning permission for the new homes was granted on the understanding that two-thirds of the land would be dedicated to a community park.

A report prepared for councillors next week sets out plans for the park and says it could help the council’s park service to train younger staff with the skills which could be lost as older team members leave.

It suggests the money provided by the developer to support the maintenance of the park could help create six new apprenticeships over the next five years.

The parks service has already created 57 apprenticeships over the last five years with the vast majority leading to permanent council jobs.

The park will include footpaths, play facilities and a wetland area.

The report says the creation of the park “will unquestionably enhance the city’s green infrastructure and will benefit those immediate communities and residents who will utilise this park as a community green space”.

It continues: “Good quality greenspace can have a positive impact by improving the quality of life and health of those living close by.”

Members of Leeds City Council’s executive will consider the park proposal at a meeting on Wednesday.

Councillors will be asked to agree the spending of £300,000 to establish the park.

The remaining £200,000 from the developer will support future maintenance costs once the park opens.

Work could start on the site next month and the project is scheduled to be completed in June 2018.