£173,000 work is set to start at Golden Acre Park cafe (From Wharfedale Observer)

£173,000 work is set to start at Golden Acre Park cafe

9:00am Sunday 10th March 2013 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

Work is due to begin on a £173,000 upgrade of facilities at Bramhope’s Golden Acre Park.

The scheme which includes a new conservatory extension and more accessible toilets at the park’s cafe, has been given the go-ahead by Leeds City Council.

Work on the upgrade is expected to start this month and will take around ten weeks to complete.

The project is being funded through a partnership with local firm Franklin Windows, who will provide £100,000 of work in return for sponsorship benefits at the park and cafe.

The improvements will increase the number of customers who can be seated indoors to 86, by transforming the current outdoor terrace patio into a 40-place conservatory.

The company was set up by Bob Franklin in 1975 and is now run by his son Josh, who said the project was close to their hearts as his grandfather Clifford Franklin had loved the park.

“The park is especially meaningful to us as our grandad loved it and when he died we put a bench there in his memory,” he said.

“Franklins are very excited about getting the go-ahead and helping to transform the Bakery Cafe with a beautifully designed conservatory. Our grandad would have been so proud to know we are creating part of the landscape at one of Leeds’ loveliest locations.”

Golden Acre is one of Leeds’s busiest parks and the improvements are designed to help it better cope with high visitor numbers during peak times. Under the arrangement, the toilets will be funded by Leeds City Council and cost £45,000, and the local authority is contributing £28,000 towards the conservatory.