Felixstowe's Spa Gardens - set for a £2.76 million renovation project.
Felixstowe: Seafront gardens renovation set to be complete by summer 2014
BY RICHARD CORNWELL, Felixstowe editor
Thursday, October 18, 2012
10:05 AM
WORK should start next April on the £2.76 million regeneration of Felixstowe’s nationally-important seafront gardens.
Suffolk Coastal has started the tender process – looking for a contractor to carry out the work on the council-led initiative, which has backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
It says it is seeking a “qualified and experienced” company and firms have until November 7 to express an interest in the project, be assessed and then invited to make a full tender for the works.
“We are now at the next important stage, where we need to appoint our partners who will carry out much of the physical works that will help transform the gardens and so play their part in the ongoing regeneration of Felixstowe,” said Geoff Holdcroft, cabinet member for leisure and economic development.
“There is a wide range of works to be carried out that will not only give the gardens an exciting fresh new look, but will also restore much of what has made them so special for so many years, and have rightly gained them national heritage recognition.
“Our goal is to get someone appointed by next March and get the transformation works underway in April which should mean they are all finished by the peak summer holiday period of 2014.”
The gardens are designated Grade II on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
The main work involves restoring structures and enhancing the heritage features of the gardens, as well as creating a new public shelter.
In addition there will be improved lighting and seating, a new heritage trail, improved public space, reinstated and enhanced gardens, with much better accessibility and safety for all visitors.
■To access the e-tendering service, visit www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/felixstowefutures/seafrontgardens/.
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6 comments
Its a shame that you haven't spent as much time and thought on what will become of our theatre in the centre of the gardens! I put it to you Mr Holdcroft, that if you allow our theatre to become a boarded up building in the middle of your 2.76 million lottery funded garden, you will become even more of a laughing stock than you are already over this! address the issues that need addressing and devote your time things that will draw people to the town instead of closing every tourist attraction that we currently have.........Spa pavilion Theatre, the latest in a long line of failures by Suffolk Coastal along Felixstowe seafront, don't believe me?! take a walk along there and see for yourself..
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Kellyanne Crane
Friday, October 19, 2012
Its a shame that you haven't spent as much time and thought on what will become of our theatre in the centre of the gardens! I put it to you Mr Holdcroft, that if you allow our theatre to become a boarded up building in the middle of your 2.76 million lottery funded garden, you will become even more of a laughing stock than you are already over this! address the issues that need addressing and devote your time things that will draw people to the town instead of closing every tourist attraction that we currently have.........Spa pavilion Theatre, the latest in a long line of failures by Suffolk Coastal along Felixstowe seafront, don't believe me?! take a walk along there and see for yourself..
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Kellyanne Crane
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Well said A Smith and T Doff - there is indeed no money provided for future maintenance so very quickly the new gardens will degenerate into a weed filled mess. Still at least then they will blend nicely with the boarded up Spa Pavilion!
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paul
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A complete and utter waste of money. If they cannot keep the town the Spa Pavilion why on earth spend all that money on the gardens. Once the Spa is closed no one will be interested in going to that area.Its going to be a vandals paradise. The councillors or who ever is agreeing to this should be should be got rid of.I for one am sick and tired of what they are doing to the town.I was born here 70 years ago and cannot believe what is happening.
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Elise Moreton
Thursday, October 18, 2012
This is just crazy. All over the county and the country, things are neglected when they could be kept up and in repair for modest sums (spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar). Then, when they are falling apart and nearly derelict, large sums are spent to "regenerate" them. Once done, there is apparently no money nor any will to again keep up the "regenerated" thing, and the cycle of waste and neglect comes round again.
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T Doff
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Your report forgets to mention the major new attraction of the gardens a large derelict empty building being progressively vandalised and graffiti covered, that used to be called the Spa. This work should not be started until a future plan is finalised for this building and or site.
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A Smith
Thursday, October 18, 2012