Waterfoot Centre, Rossendale
06.07.18
As this brilliant project draws to a close, we thought we’d share the Proffitts Case Study that summarises the work completed. Click image for full page view:
20.06.18
Here are some quick pics of the site as it developed week by week – such a transformation!
Don’t forget that, now that the new area is up and running, we’d really love to get your feedback.
If you could take 2 minutes to share your thoughts and complete the short survey on the link below,
we’d really appreciate it. Thank you!
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/waterfootplay
11.06.18
Now that the new area is up and running, we’d really love to get your feedback. If you could take 2 minutes to share your thoughts and complete the short survey on the link below, we’d really appreciate it. Thank you!
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/waterfootplay
11.06.18
https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/pictures-120k-open-space-playground-14752241
Thank you all so much for your help over the past years it seems with the Waterfoot Project and for supporting it every step of the way.
The launch on Tuesday went well and the Rossendale Free Press have covered it (see above link)!
6.06.18
We had a great day celebrating the completion of the much needed play area and community space in the centre of Waterfoot. Its been a real pleasure working with all the partners to get this project delivered. Special thanks goes out to all the pupils who were involved with the planting and artwork at Waterfoot Primary School over the last 6 months and thanks for coming down and making our day!
30.04.18
Have a look at these stone flags that children from Waterfoot School have created with the help of a local stone mason Ken Howe. Don’t they look fantastic!? Thanks children and teachers for all your hard work and help! We hope to be laying these in the site to finish it off in the next couple of weeks – well in time for the celebration and formal launch…date to be confirmed so watch this space.
27.02.18
Latest press release about Waterfoot Centre below!
Planting Fun in Waterfoot Town Centre
The new community space in Waterfoot is almost complete now that the planting has been completed.
Following on from a site visit and art workshops to design unique cast stone flags, pupils from the Green Team at Waterfoot Primary School have been instrumental in getting the project finished by helping to plant the raised beds at the front of the site.
Working alongside members of Stacksteads Countryside Park Group and Proffitts – Investing in Communities the pupils planted a variety of sensory plants in the large planters, including grasses, scented plants and a range of flowering plants to give year round colour.
The planters have been designed to separate the community space from the car park and are made from CorTen steel. They were designed and manufactured by Urban Street Designs in Nelson and installed by O’Callaghan Civil Engineering who have carried out the overall project creation.
Proffitts – Investing in Communities have been working closely alongside Rossendale Borough Council, artist Alistair Price and Waterfoot Primary School on the project for several months now and look forward to the site being complete open for the community to use.
Martin Proffitt at Proffitts said:
“Completion of the project has been eagerly anticipated and we can’t wait to see it open for the community to enjoy. We are working with artist Alistair Price and Waterfoot Primary School to arrange a large project launch to celebrate all the hard work and hope this will be held in spring when the weather is a better!”
Over £130K of funding for the project has been secured from Rossendale Borough Council via Section 106 agreements, Viridor Credits, Lancashire Environmental Fund and Lancashire County Council.
The entire project and snagging is expected to be complete in March. Regular updates and details of the project launch are available from Proffitts via their Facebook page and website at:
http://www.proffittscic.com/community-projects/waterfootcentre-rossendale/
For more information, please contact Proffitts directly on 01204 778907 or Keith Jenkins at Rossendale Borough Council on 01706 217777.
15.02.18
Work at Waterfoot Centre continues and the space should be open towards the end of next week for everyone to enjoy – take a look at the latest drone footage here!
01.02.2018
Pupils from the Green Team at Waterfoot Primary School worked alongside artist Alistair Price today on designs for bespoke flags which are to be laid into the ground at Waterfoot Community Space. The designs have been shaped by what the pupils have discovered about the history of Waterfoot and also by their own experiences. These designs will be cast into flags and set into the site in the coming weeks. A big thanks to the pupils and teachers for all their hard work!
20.12.2017
Click on this link to check out the latest drone footage of the works at the Waterfoot Centre – it’s a great way to see just how much has been happening on site!
18.12.2017
We’re in the local paper!
Click here to see the story in the Rossendale Borough Council News
Click here to see the story in the Lancashire Telegraph
18.12.2017
Another update for you! This time from the Waterfoot Community Space Press Release 17th Dec 2017
Transformation of Waterfoot Town Centre
A new community space is steadily taking shape on the site of the derelict basketball courts in Waterfoot Centre.
Pupils from the Green Team at Waterfoot Primary School came down to site to take a closer look this week. They will be working alongside artist Alastair Price and Proffitts – Investing in Communities to learn more about the history of Waterfoot and of this site itself and turn their ideas into beautiful and unique designs which will be interpreted into permanent artwork for the site.
Proffitts – Investing in Communities have been working closely alongside Rossendale Borough Council on proposals for the community space, taking inspiration from the site history; from consultation carried out for the site and also taking into consideration the needs of the neighbours. The project includes creation of a toddler play area, making the site more accessible from Woodlea Road with a new ramp, installation of seats and picnic benches, opening up views to the river and colourful new planting in raised beds. A significant part of the site will remain as open space for community events and activities leaving the car parking spaces available on event days.
Over £130K of funding for the project has been secured from Rossendale Borough Council via Section 106 agreements, Viridor Credits, Lancashire Environmental Fund and Lancashire County Council.
Cllr Amanda Robertson, Elected Member for Whitewell ward said “I’m really glad that this patch of Waterfoot is finally getting a face lift. For years it’s been an eyesore and soon it’s going to look wonderful and people will be able to walk through, sit and relax and children will have exciting equipment to play on”.
Cllr Jackie Oakes, Portfolio Holder for Operations, said
“I’m delighted that this long awaited project will soon be complete. The facility is badly needed in Waterfoot and I’m sure it will be well utilised. I’m really looking forward to the opening event and hope that the many residents who contributed to the consultation events will be able to come along and enjoy the end result”.
The construction work is well underway already and is expected to be completed in the New Year. Regular updates will be available from Proffitts via their Facebook page and website at:
http://www.proffittscic.com/community-projects/waterfootcentre-rossendale/
For more information, please contact Proffitts direct on 01204 778907 or Keith Jenkins at Rossendale Borough Council on 01706 217777.
8.12.2017
Its a winter wonderland on site in Waterfoot this morning! Doesn’t stop the work though – more play equipment being installed today 🙂
5.12.2017
Construction is well underway now – edgings have been laid; the ground prepared and levels altered; the stone walls for the ramp are half built and the play equipment is being created and brought to site. It is expected that the majority of the works will be almost completed before Christmas. Additional surfacing and artworks will be completed in the New Year.
Watch this space in the coming weeks for news about the artwork and involvement of the local community and schools.
5.12.2017
Click on this link to check out drone footage of the works that have started at the Waterfoot Centre – it really does give you a birds eye view of everything that’s happening!!
31.10.2017
UPDATE! Construction work will be starting on site in Waterfoot Centre (at the rear of the bus turning circle), adjacent to Wood Lea Road on Monday 6 November.
The project includes the creation of a toddler play area with safety surfacing, building ramped access from Wood Lea Road, replacing the site boundary fencing and installing new raised planting beds.
Construction work will last until early in the New Year. During this time the entire area will be closed off for safety. This includes pedestrian access through the site too.
The works have been funded by Viridor Credits, Lancashire Environmental Fund, Lancashire County Council and Rossendale Borough Council. The work is being carried out by contractor O’Callaghan Civil Engineering Ltd, working with Stacksteads Countryside Park Group, Proffitts – Investing in Communities and Rossendale Borough Council.
We apologise for any inconvenience this work might cause but are looking forward to the end result!
Please click on the link below for details of the plan.
19.10.2017
Hi everyone – thanks lots for your patience with this one – we’ve been busy in the background to get to this stage and taking into account everyone’s wants and needs! Attached is the final plan for you all to view – please click on the link below. Earlier this month the work went out to open tender and has been awarded to a fairly local Lancashire based firm and the play equipment has already been purchased! The physical improvements will start to take place in around to 4 – 5 weeks so all good there. There will also be some opportunity to get involved in some intended artwork involving the seating there so please remember to state your interest in that we would love to hear from you from the comments section below. Keep in touch y’all. Thanks 🙂
20.1.17
This is the current working drawing which has been pulled together using feedback from the public consultations. This plan is being used to try to raise funds to carry out the improvement works – please click on the link to view.
Waterfoot centre plan sketch design
19.9.2016
Hi all just a quick update – officers at Rossendale Borough Council have taken all the consultation and feedback on board and have instructed us to begin further fundraising. We have identified a couple funds which we can go for and will be submitting bids over the next 3-4 months. The success of the bids will inform us what we can achieve on the site. We’ll let you know the outcome of these bids ASAP. Thanks!
24.6.2016
Thanks for your patience everyone. Council officers have recently received a 500 signature petition to reinstate a play area in the centre of Waterfoot AKA Mullards. We believe they are considering options from no play items to some play items to mainly play items in the space. Considerations include the wants / needs of the whole community balanced with play value for the children, funds available initially to build the proposal (whichever that may be) and then to consider the long term maintenance costs of the scheme over the next 20 years or so. Watch this space and we will update you as soon as we can in terms of the intended design and next steps. Have a good weekend now 🙂
22.6.2016
Play ideas without equipment
5.4.2016
Have you checked out the ‘Inspiring Waterfoot’ page on Facebook? If not, please ‘like’ them by clicking here
4.4.2016
We welcome feedback on this project from all the local community. We have produced a simple survey which includes details of the proposed plan. Do let us know your thoughts by clicking here – thank you!
21.3.2016
Rossendale Council unveils plans for improvements to Waterfoot Centre
Rossendale Council unveils proposed plans for improvements to Waterfoot Centre.
Following the building of the new residential development, Whitwell Court, Rossendale Council has made funding available to improve the adjacent public space and car park area.
A public consultation exercise was undertaken in 2015 to find out how local residents would like the area to be improved and what features they would like incorporating into the plans. The Council is working with local Community Interest Company Proffitts to make improvements to the area in line with people’s suggestions.
£53,000 is available for the scheme, and it is hoped that additional external grant funding can be secured to enable the plan to be fully realised. The initial sketch designs include ideas on tidying up the car park including the addition of 6 new spaces and creating an attractive community space where the old play area used to be. There will be additional planted areas and a ramped access from Wood Lea Road for buggies and wheelchairs. Secure fencing will be installed by Whitewell Brook to allow views of the river without giving general access. The initial plans are for people to comment on and there is the ability to make suggestions.
Cllr Alyson Barnes, Leader of Rossendale Council said;
“When Whitwell Court was built the Council undertook to improve the car park area and its great to see the plans which look really good and will make a big difference to the centre of Waterfoot.”
Martin Proffitt from Proffitts CIC said;
“In drawing up the plans we’ve listened to people’s views from the consultation and incorporated the features people wanted. I’m optimistic that we can secure the extra grant funding to create a great scheme in Waterfoot”
The proposed plans are below and on the council’s website. Plus a drop in session will be arranged for people to view the plans locally and comment, this will be advertised once organised. Comments on the scheme can be placed on Proffitts Website