PEOPLE in Horwich are rallying together in a bid to create a park for the Millennium.

The leading lights behind the campaign are members of the Courts Residents' Association, which represents residents in the Craven Court area.

And they've already made moves to ensure that if the scheme is a success, they will get a park people really want.

Secretary of the association, Donna Powell, is one of a small band of people who have been working tirelessly to ensure the campaign's success.

In addition to writing to businesses in Bolton asking if they would be prepared to sponsor the scheme, they have sent out 5,000 survey forms to local schools to see what children and parents in the area want from a park.

Donna's ideal park would feature a fenced off area for very young children where they could play in safety.

There would be another play area for older children and an area for roller blading and cycling. There would also be special facilities for disabled children so that they could join in the fun.

She is also keen that security be introduced so that children could play there after school in safety.

And she doesn't rule out a separate area for people to walk their dogs - if that's what the people want.

Donna says the association decided to take on the mammoth task of raising money for the park because they didn't want to go, cap in hand to the council, and end up having to put up with what they were given.

She said: "We've been down that road before and we ended up with a roundabout and a slide. We want much more than that."

And now the hard work begins. The association has got thousands of returned survey forms to analyse, stacks of paperwork to wade through, and there are numerous avenues for grants and sponsorship to explore.

They have already applied for a slice of the Grundy Hill Fund, which has £170,000 on offer for leisure facilities in Horwich, and to the National Lottery.

Donna said: "When we approach businesses for sponsorship, we don't just mean money.

Support

"We mean moral support and physical help. North British Housing has helped with the typing of letters, and that's the sort of help we are looking for as well."

And they need help from the people of Horwich to make their dream of a Millennium park a reality.

To help that process along they will be organising a public meeting to take place as soon as possible.

Anyone who wants to help should ring Donna in the evenings on Bolton 694879, Sandra Wells on 432449 or write to Colin Marks at 42 Craven Court, Horwich, Bolton.

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