Warwickshire News Mine

A ‘meet the artists’ event is being held on Wednesday, January 13, at the Tithe Barn, Hall Court, Bridge Street, Polesworth, at 6pm.

Visitors will be able to meet Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion who will be introducing themselves and their past work.

Warwickshire County Council is working to introduce new features to make Pooley Country park more attractive, with support from the Homes and Communities Agency.

After consulting users and local people the council agreed that the next stage of the programme would include an artist’s commission for the mound in the park.

Visitors are invited to come along and meet the team and tell them how they use the park and what it means to them.

The art project is a part of a cash windfall of £350,000 for the park.

In September last year the park was awarded the funding by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to fund an arts-led project to help regenerate it into a ‘valued park and community asset’.

The park was accepted into the final round of the HCA’s National Coalfields Programme, benefitting from a £350,000 grant.

The investment will help to fund improvements, highlighted following extensive consultation, including: a new spiral pathway up the former spoil heap showcasing views across four counties, an arts installation at the peak, a visitor activity facility such as climbing tower, a new park entrance and improvements to the canal underpass.

Regional director for the HCA, Paul Spooner, said: “We are pleased to invest in the Pooley project. The new facilities will provide a more sustainable financial footing for the park, which will help regenerate this coalfield community.”

Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This is great news for Pooley, and I look forward to seeing the completed project. All of Warwickshire’s country parks offer something different, and it’s often hard to find a better value day out.”

The artist team was appointed by a panel that included representatives from the Polesworth Parish Council and The Polesworth Society.

The winning artists, Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion were selected from a strong international field. They are currently affiliated to the University of Dundee.

The former site of Pooley Hall Colliery was opened as Warwickshire’s newest country park in 2000.

The site has been developing steadily with the addition of an adventure play area, tea room and classroom facility. The Pooley Wharf is taking shape with the arrival of Debbie’s Day Boats which hope to be running day boat hire and eventually trip boats from the canal side.

Visitor numbers to the site have steadily been increasing, as people get to know it, and enjoy it as a country park.

For further information on this or to find out more about all of Warwickshire’s Country Parks, call Kingsbury Water Park on 01827 872660 or e-mail parks@warwickshire.gov.uk. Or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parks

Link to WCC