£100k contribution towards Chepstow’s new destination park

Plans for Chepstow’s new destination park have made an unexpected leap forward, following a £100,000 contribution from Chepstow Town Council.

The funding means that work on the Dell’s redevelopment can begin much sooner than expected, subject to the necessary planning permissions.

The decision to award the funding was made at a full council meeting in November 2022 and fully confirmed this spring as part of the Council’s budget announcement. The £100,000 contribution follows an original grant request from the group for a sum of £8,475 to support the costs of design work and a heritage impact assessment. This funding request was also approved.

A condition of the funding is for phase one and phase two of the park to be completed at the same time to try and minimise disruption to the park. The Town Council will work in partnership with the voluntary group to support a bid for lottery match funding. FDPC will also look to commission The Landmark Practice to carry out the necessary detailed design layouts for phase two.

Vicky Burston-Yates, Chair of FDPC, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive such a significant amount of money and would like to thank Chepstow Town Council for their continued support. This funding means that we can fast forward our project, with a focus on phase two designs and trying to secure further funding over the coming months. It’s very likely that the installation of new play equipment will begin in early 2024.”

Commenting on the contribution, Councillor Margaret Griffiths, Mayor of Chepstow, said: “Chepstow Town Council is delighted to be able to provide match funding supporting the Friends of the Dell Park in it’s application to the lottery for phase one and two of the development of the Dell play park. Visitors and residents of Chepstow will benefit from this investment by the creation of a destination play area which will be welcoming and accessible encouraging imaginative and adventurous play.”

Plans for the park’s re-development will see the space transformed, with the outdated play equipment replaced with a modern and more natural play environment that complements the historic port wall.

Previously, FDPC intended to apply for lottery funding to help realise phase one of the plans. The group will now consider lottery funding and other possible grants for future phases of the park’s redevelopment.