Story telling chair unveiled in Dawley Park
Dawley Park is set to become a family hub for reading thanks to a new story telling chair funded through Telford & Wrekin Council’s Big Green Vote and Great Dawley Town Council.
Great Dawley Town Council installed the reading chair with help from £1,000 funding to help celebrate Telford’s 50th anniversary as part of the celebration of World Book Day.
It is hoped that families, schools and community groups will be able to enjoy the reading chair and take advantage of Dawley & Malinslee Community Library’s Saturday opening hours, bringing books from the library to read in the park.
Pupils of Dawley C of E Primary Academy dressed as their favourite characters from books and took part in a procession to mark the unveiling of the chair.
There was also a live reading of ‘Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone by a staff member from Telford & Wrekin Council’s Southwater Library.
Councillor John Minor, Cabinet Member for leisure green spaces & parks said: “This story telling chair is a valuable addition to an already well used community space and enriches the park with opportunities for people to come together and share time together.
“Dawley Park has a very active Friends group who work tirelessly to help maintain the park and we’re delighted to support both the local community and Friends group with enhancements that encourage more use. It’s just one example of how we’re working in partnership with communities.
Councillor Malcolm Randle, Mayor of Great Dawley Town Council said: “This unveiling was very special because of the support from Dawley C of E Primary Academy and it was wonderful to see everyone dressed up and embracing literature. Pockets of funding from Telford & Wrekin Council and partnership working with the Town Council can make a huge difference to additions and improvements to the park for the benefit of everyone.”
Nick Andrews, principal of Dawley C of E Primary Academy said “Pupils and staff use Dawley Park every day and it has been wonderful to see over the last few years the park being transformed into the wonderful community space it is today with such a wide variety of facilities for all ages to enjoy.”
Telford & Wrekin Council put up 96 council-owned sites for protection from development as part of its Green Guarantee scheme and the top 50, as voted by the public, were awarded an equal share of the legacy fund. Funding to the value of £52,000 was made available from the council’s £2m Telford 50 Legacy Fund to help enhance the sites.
Pictured: Councillor Malcolm Randle, Mayor of Great Dawley Town Council
