PARKSTONE Park’s swanky makeover – which was due to be unveiled more than three weeks ago – has missed a key feature, say residents.
The £360,000 facelift at Ashley Cross, now said to be ready by the end of May, has left the Victorian-style loos untouched.
It has petanque pitches, a children’s play area and a fountain.
Jane Jones, who is organising September’s Party in the Park bash and lives nearby, said: “I’m just really surprised that the loos haven’t been done too.
“To me it’s automatically part of upgrading the park. They’re desperately in need of refurbishment, there’s quite a Victorian feel about them.
“I’m not expecting them to be extended or anything, but a bit of a facelift would have been nice.”
Portable loos are hired in for the crowds to use at Party in the Park. Staff at Le Bateau, who host the Groove on the Green party in July, have said their plans are being held up by the park being fenced off. “We’re a bit hindered too because we can’t look around and see what goes where, like the kids’ rides,” Jane said.
“But the Party is definitely going ahead. We can’t wait for the park to be finished. At the end of the day we have been affected by this upheaval massively during the wonderful weather.
“I take my dog down there for walks and there’s usually people lying in the grass. It has a fantastic atmosphere but we’ve been prohibited from enjoying that.
“When Easter came and went everyone got a bit miffed and angry about why it wasn’t ready.”
Richard Nicholson, greenspace development team leader for the Borough of Poole, explained: “The refurbishment to Parkstone Park, or Ashley Cross Green as it will be known, was paid for from Planning Obligations funding.
“This money cannot be used to refurbish public toilets; it is collected from developers and used to enhance open spaces to accommodate the increased pressure bought about by new developments.
“We hope that the park will be open by the end of next week.”
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