West Park in Macclesfield has had one of its entrance gates widened to fit double buggies and wheelchairs.

Earlier this year volunteer group Friends of West Park submitted a request for funding to Macclesfield Town Council in respect of the gate between the park and Sainsburys. In a document submitted to MTC reference was made to the width of the original gate being only 84cm which is less than the width of a class 3 mobility scooter or a double pram with a large shopping bag on the handle.

The funding request and quote for the new gate, was heard at Full Council on the 12th June where Councillor for the area Cllr David Edwardes spoke in support of the project and it all Councillors unanimously agreed to fund the new gate.

According to minutes from the appropriate Macclesfield Town Council meeting, to replace the broken roundabout in West Park and replace the gate between Sainsburys and the park so that it is fully accessible, it cost £20,000.

The old gate, which was inaccessible for wheelchair, mobility scooter and even some pram users. (Image - Macclesfield Town Council)

Town Clerk Laura Smith worked with ANSA Environmental Services who sourced and then fitted the new gate last week.

Cllr David Edwardes said "Cllr Emma Gilman and I are delighted to help make this entrance to West Park wheelchair and double buggy accessible! Big thanks to Macclesfield Town Council and Friends of West Park."

Richard Newstead, a member of Friends for West Park who wrote and submitted the request, said "West Park is a wonderful community facility that should be accessible to everyone. Thanks to the Town Council, this new wider gate will help everyone to have equal access to enjoy it."

As well as funding the wider gate, Macclesfield Town Council also agreed to fund a replacement roundabout for the park, after the old one was removed. In line with a recent addition to South Park, the new addition will be a fully accessible roundabout.

Macclesfield Town Council's Abigail Sherratt shows off the length of the new gate. (Image - Macclesfield Town Council)

If you would like to join the volunteers of Friends of West Park to hold events, help to make improvements to the park, or get involved in any other way you can follow them on Facebook or email [email protected].

You can also follow Macclesfield Town Council on Facebook.

West Park is open from 8am to 8:30pm this month.

The Victorian park was first formally opened in 1854.

A wide shot of the new gate. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

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