Plans for Jubilee Gardens Masterplan to celebrate park’s 90th anniversary

A Fylde coast park which has fallen on hard times is set for a major revamp before its 90th anniversary is celebrated next year.

Jubilee Gardens, on Cleveleys seafront, was once one of the jewels in the town’s crown.

First opened on May 1 1937 by Lord Stanley, the park was created to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

In its prime, it boasted a mini-train that took passengers across the park, a play area including swings, a roundabout, a slide and a paddling pool, along with a cafe selling light snacks, hot drinks, ice cream and lollies.

There was also a boating lake, a bandstand for live performances, tennis courts, and public toilets.

The space is currently home to a multi-use games court, skate park, youth shelter and children’s play area along with Jubilee Gardens Bowling Club, large open fields and the 111-space car park.

However, it is in a sad state of decline and for the past three years it part of it has been used a site compound for the Wyre Beach Management Scheme, which is being delivered by Balfour Beatty and is due to be completed this summer.

Wyre Council, working with the Friends of Jubilee Gardens, is currently developing an ambitious project, the Jubilee Gardens Masterplan, which will utilise £1.9m to reinstate the park in three phases, with £500,000 coming from DEFRA.

A public consultation was held over October last year, giving residents a chance to have their say, and suggestions included features such as a remembrance garden, youth facilities, art installations and new skate park features.

On Thursday night’s full council meeting of Wyre, Cllr Simon Bridge, Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder, said his Executive Report was now complete.

He said officers have now received the draft report for the Jubilee Gardens Masterplan which recommends a phased approach to site improvements.

A further consultation will be held in the coming months to consider proposals, following on from reinstatement works after removal of the beach management scheme compound.

Cllr Rob Fail, who represents the town’s Jubilee ward and is also leader of Wyre Council’s Labour opposition, says he welcomes the investment in the park.

After the meeting, he said: “The park is in a sad state a the moment – frankly the condition of the multi-use games court is disgrace.

“The Masterplan project is very welcome. What I would like to see is a design which will return Jubilee Gardens to being a park in the proper sense, offering the overall amenities that people would rightly expect from a larger park.

“I haven’t seen that yet but I’m hoping more detailed designs in the later phases will show that. This is a golden opportunity to get things right.”

Councillor Bridge previously said: “Wyre Council and Balfour Beatty have a clear responsibility to reinstate the area used during the works.

“But we want to go further by listening to our residents and shaping Jubilee Gardens around what matters most to them.

“Consultation is a chance to create a space that reflects the community’s priorities. Not just restoring what was there, but improving it for future generations.”