Home Local News Pupils’ park plans take shape (in a roundabout way)

Pupils’ park plans take shape (in a roundabout way)

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St Peter and Paul School  wildflower seed sowing (2) (640x495)
Photo: Zak and Molly (front left and centre) with Councillor Jeff Fletcher (right) and rangers Tracey Shearer and Barry Fleetwood

Haresfinch Park is set for a mini makeover – thanks to the efforts of St Peter and St Paul RC Primary pupils Zak (10) and Molly (6) Mulcahy, backed by money from St Helens Council’s Councillor Improvement Fund.

The brother and sister, both regular visitors to the park, wrote to ward Councillor Jeff Fletcher to express their view that the small roundabout by the park – on Green Leach Lane – looked ‘dirty and a bit boring.’ And they wanted to know if the council could do anything to improve things?

Together with mum Mel, an onsite meeting was arranged, where the youngsters handed over two designs to Councillor Fletcher – outlining how they thought the roundabout should look, which included plans for shrubs and large planters.

“I was very impressed with the plans,” said Councillor Fletcher, “but it later became clear that there were one or two safety issues with installation and maintenance. So we managed to reach a compromise – with a planter that will be placed at the entrance to the park opposite the roundabout.

“I was really delighted that Zak and Molly cared enough about their area to put their ideas forward – and also with the support they and the council received from the school.”

Council rangers have helped take things a stage further by inviting Zak’s classmates, along with Molly, to the park to help plant some wild flower seeds in the same section of the park. They also gave the children a talk about the flowers and how they help the environment – and presented them with digital cameras to record local flora and fauna.

The Councillor Improvement Fund sees each ward given around £15,000 a year to spend on projects suggested by residents. Anyone can submit a suggestion, with ward councillors making the final decision on which projects can be supported. For more information about the fund, contact your ward councillor.

St Peter and Paul School  wildflower seed sowing (1) (640x405)
Photo: Zak and Molly with Councillor Fletcher, rangers and classmates and staff from St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School.

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