MILTON PARK RENOVATION AND IMPROVEMENTS
Milton House was built in the early 1860’s and became the residence of the Craig Family until 1940, when the Ministry of Defence took it over to provide accommodation for the Royal Ordnance Factory at Radway Green.
After the War, the house was used as accommodation for apprentices at Radway Green and GEC at Kidsgrove, and the Games Room was the original “13” Club.
In 1965, the gardens of the house were taken over by Alsager Urban District Council and the house reverted to private ownership. The high wall surrounding the garden was removed and the flower beds opposite St. Mary’s Church established. Otherwise, the layout of the gardens is very much as it was in Victorian days.
However, it was felt that the gardens were under-used.
An ambitious plan was formulated by the Milton Park Steering Group, a mixture of local people interested in the park and members of Alsager Town Council. Congleton Borough Council and Groundwork Cheshire became involved, and the more recently formed Alsager Partnership.
The ambition was to restore the fabric of the park, attract more visitors and provide for all age groups in the local community. A Master Plan was designed and adopted.
Initially, there were three phases to the plan:
PHASE ONE – to provide outdoor activities and a place to meet for young people (aged 11 years and over).
The park already had a junior football pitch and kick-about area, so after extensive consultation with young people, it was decided to build a ‘Skate and Meet’ zone. This phase is now nearing completion with the addition of floodlights and is proving very popular. (see Youtube)
A new CCTV facility for the park was also installed at this time.
Finance for this phase was provided by the North West Development Agency/Rural Enterprise, Alsager Town Council, Congleton Borough Council and Congleton Community Safety Partnership.
PHASE TWO – to provide an improved play area for children and young people, aged 14 years and under.
The play area was developed following consultation at the annual Alsager Carnival, local schools and other venues. Groundwork Cheshire designed the new facility accordingly and funding was obtained from Big Lottery Fund’s Children’s Play grant programme, Waste Recycling Environmental (Landfill Community Fund), Alsager Town Council, Congleton Borough Council and Congleton Community Safety Partnership.
Children aged 6 years and under are also catered for with a new play area outside the new Alsager Medical Centre nearby.
PHASE THREE - to provide quieter floral areas in renovated ornamental gardens within the park, for the enjoyment of all.
The original gardens contained the ‘Sunken Garden’ (which previously included a fountain), the rose beds and the ‘Long Walk’ alongside Station Road.
Sunken Garden
The idea of a rockery sunk into the ground was very Victorian. The soil was used to build the banks around the sunken area and this structure can still be seen.
The ambitious plan proposes improved access, particularly for wheelchairs and pushchairs and a link to the rest of the park via a short woodland path. A re-designed central feature and seating are to be incorporated. A large part of this work will need to be achieved mechanically and funding is presently being sought. However, a lot of work has already been done by the Milton Park Landscape Volunteers, eg. bulb planting and scrub clearance.
Rose Beds
Volunteers have already applied over 6 tons of compost to the beds, helped to prune the roses, applied fertilizer and assisted disease control. Currently, one of the beds is being replanted and in Spring 2009, annual bedding plants will be incorporated.
The Long Walk
This footpath runs between the football pitch and Station Road. The border is planted with shrubs and will require further work to bring it back to its Victorian glory, when the ladies and gentlemen of the house would take a stroll after dinner.
