Tuesday 28 August 2018

Queen Elizabeth Gardens reopening


HOW good it was to see Queen Elizabeth Gardens re-open last week and being enjoyed by the community over the August bank holiday weekend.


If ever there was a sign that Salisbury is getting back to normal, it was this. It made my week – Lizzie Gardens re-opening will make such a difference to the city centre. I drove past on Friday and it was so good to inhale that sweet smell of freshly cut grass!

Lizzie Gardens is an important part of life in Salisbury and it was missed by so many while it was closed. It’s a hugely popular community space and every day so many people enjoy the park and all that it offers; particularly in the summer holiday period. Its closure definitely impacted on footfall into the city centre and its closure for almost two months during the hottest summer we’ve had for years, was hard and understandably caused some frustration. Some people have questioned why it has taken so long for the park to reopen. The safety of the public had to be the priority and it did take time for local and national agencies and specialist teams to carry out meticulous searches, including in the river. It was complex, challenging work in demanding conditions and we can now all be reassured that our much-loved park comes back with a clean bill of health. This is good news for all those families who use the park regularly and can now continue to do so knowing that it is safe for them and their children to enjoy as they always have.


The re-opening of the Town Path last month, the news that the Mill Pub is handed back for refurbishment, and now having Lizzie Gardens reopen for public and community use is another significant and positive step forward in Salisbury well and truly getting back to normal and that’s something that we all want to see.

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