THE first stages of a £1.5 million project to revamp Ford Park, in Ulverston, have been completed, reports Zaoe Casson.

In February, the Ford Park Community Group put together plans to transform the grounds of the former school.

The list included two play areas, a bandstand, picnic and barbecue area, a sensory garden and a skate park.

In August, South Lakeland district council planners gave the go ahead for the bandstand, sensory garden and play areas, toilet block and installation of a passenger lift.

During the last month work has been carried out by volunteers from Impact Training to create the path through the woods for the sensory trail.

The group is hoping to attract more volunteers to put the final touches to the trail, which will include a picnic and barbecue area, but already people are being urged to use it.

Vice-chairman of the group Dickon Abbott said: "Work to transform the grounds of the house has started happening and we are really pleased.

We are hoping that people will come and use the path even though it is not finished yet as it is for the whole community."

Mr Abbott said the group's next move was to put together a list of fund-raising ideas.

"We are holding our annual meeting in October and we are hoping people will come along and give us some fund-raising ideas to raise money towards the other projects and then we can start work on them."

The 65-strong group, which includes councillors and members of the Ulverston community, has again vowed to back youngsters campaigning to get the go ahead for the skate park.

In August, members of South Lakeland District Council's planning committee voted nine to three against the outline application despite a supporters' petition with 1,165 signatories and 30 pro-park letters.

Objectors had fielded a 19-name petition and 15 letters.

At the meeting, seven neighbours spoke out, raising concerns about the look of the development, noise, drink and drug abuse by children already congregating on the park, the impact on residents of nearby St Mary's Hospice and the health and safety for park users.

Mr Abbott said: "We had a meeting last week about the skate park and more than 30 youngsters turned up to listen to people's views and to talk about what could be done next.

The community group has agreed to continuing supporting the skate park project in anyway it can."