Nelson park pavilion set to re-open as cafe (From This Is Lancashire)

Nelson park pavilion set to re-open as cafe

8:00pm Sunday 1st July 2012 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A PAVILION at an 18th century Nelson park is set to re-open as a cafe.

The pavilion in Victoria Park looks likely to be taken over as a social enterprise by two current Pendle Council employees.

Council chiefs have been looking at re-opening the cafe, closed since 2006, for a few months and in May received two expressions of interest for using the pavilion.

And the one by council employees Petra Wilson and Louise Hoole looks set to be given the green lights by councillors at a meeting tomorrow night.

Kieron Roberts, principal development officer in parks and recreation at Pendle Council, said: “The pavilion in Victoria Park has been used sporadically over recent years and is currently not open to the public as a cafe.

“Currently, it is only utilised as a polling station and as a meeting place for the Friends of Victoria Park group.

“There is a strong desire from parks and recreation staff and the Friends Group to make better use of the pavilion. The 2009-2019 Parks Management Plan identifies that the provision of a café/shop or a similar mobile concessionary service is needed for park users.

“In addition, we have a long term aim to create a ‘community hub’ at the pavilion that would be a focal point for park users to access concessions, provide information on the park and other features within the local area, be a base for the Friends Group and other community organisations within the vicinity.”

The proposal to use the pavilion from Petra Wilson and Louise Hoole, would see the cafe re-opened and refurbished, with a view to developing the building and the surrounding area as a ‘community hub’.

This would be run via a Community Interest Company. Petra and Louise, who are localities officers at the council, would hand their notices in once the cafe is getting close to opening for business.