DETAILS of the £4.5 million lottery-funded renovation of Cliffe Castle Park in Keighley have been unveiled by the contractors.

Restoration specialists Casey revealed what they will be doing during the next ten months as they announced the start of work.

Casey, a multi-disciplinary contractor, said the park will remain open to the public throughout the reconstruction programme, with safe and accessible pedestrian corridors clearly marked.

The company said planned events in the park could still go ahead throughout the construction phase, with works being carried out as quietly and efficiently as possible.

The works will include restoring the park’s overall landscape with a full refurbishment of the fountains, pond and water features, as well as an upgrade of the bandstand and its surrounding areas.

A new cafeteria will be provided on the footprint of the old vineries building, close to the main walls of the museum, and a new glass palm house will be built to replicate the designs of the original structure.

A portion of the original vineries will be recreated to include a new heating system and a small internal animal enclosure.

Restoration work will include some of the park’s stonework, all the footpaths, along with gates, railings, fencing and boundary walls.

The original 1870s pond will be re-instated along with refurbishment of two ornate Italian marble fountains, which were last operational in the 1970s.

Other installations will include park furniture, heritage-style seating, waste bins, fencing, lighting, replica lamps, restoration of historic lamps and urns.

Interpretation noticeboards and supplementary information will be provided in key locations to help tell the story of the park and museum building’s original owners, the Butterfield family.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and culture, said it is great work is starting after all the effort that went into preparing the project and securing funding.

She added: “The Cliffe Castle Park project will complement the recent restoration of the museum and create a terrific asset for Keighley and the rest of the Bradford district for many years to come.”

Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group, which has worked closely with the council on the lottery project, said it is pleased work has finally started.

A spokesman said: “We have spent a lot of time at meetings, studying and discussing plans.

"We look forward to seeing the key features of the park take shape.

“The careful planning that allows the park to remain open while the work takes place is much appreciated by the group.”

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Keighley News, 80-86 North Street, Keighley BD21 3AG. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.