Leamington’s Pump Room Gardens makeover on its way

Last Wednesday, Warwick District Council’s executive committee gave their approval for the council to spend £100,000 on helping the Friends of the Pump Room Gardens - who have committed to raising £50,000 themselves - gain the ‘match funding’ required to apply for the grant.

The group, whose members have dedicated much time into drawing up detailed plans for the council-owned park, want to refurbish the bandstand and improve the gardens’ drainage system and appearance of York Bridge.

The project will also involve replanting missing lime trees, resurfacing the paths running through the gardens and creating a wildflower meadow along the riverbank.

Speaking to the Courier in November, when the council agreed to support the project in principle, the Friends chairman Archie Pitts said: “The gardens are the ‘village green’ of the town, where youngsters go to play football and sit with friends, so we are not aiming to turn them into a Victorian flower garden.

“They are also very valued for summer festivals, such as the Peace Festival, Food and Drink Festival and Mela and the farmers’ market every month - all of which are so successful. We hope that all these and others too will continue to play their part.”

Early estimates suggest that the project will cost more than £1 million. Work is expected to begin in 2015.

In a report for councillors on the executive committee, council officer David Anderson said: “These works will complement the neighbouring restored Jephson Gardens and Mill Gardens, which were also partly funded through the Heritage Lottery.

“Improving the Pump Room Gardens will be beneficial to the local economy, especially with the arrival of the Men’s National Bowls at Victoria Park.”