Hundreds of residents came together to help launch new community facilities at a special event.
The two all-weather football pitches and Broken Cross Pavilion at Jasmine Park, near Whirley, had been closed off to the public for almost 18 months.
They were shut as a legal dispute between the council and Taylor Wimpey (TW) was settled.
But after residents, backed by The Express, and Macclesfield MP David Rutley campaigned to get them open the facilities were officially launched on Friday (January 30) with help from the girl who the park is named after.
Jasmine is the granddaughter of the park’s developer Taylor Wimpey’s legal director, and she attended the event along with David Rutley MP, Mayor of Macclesfield Coun Janet Jackson, ward councillors Louise Brown and Martin Hardy, Vic Barlow and representatives from Taylor Wimpey and the council. Taylor Wimpey and Tesco’s Broken Cross store also provided the food and drink for attendees.
Chris Andrew, chairman of the volunteer group, said: “Nearly 200 residents and local people turned up and everyone was very impressed with the excellent facilities that are available for the communities’s use.
“The Macclesfield Express and David Rutley have been major players in this campaign and I would like to thank everyone that has worked so hard.
“Simon Davies the site manager of Jasmine Park was also given a round of applause on the day by residents in recognition of his sterling work on their behalf for nearly five years.”
Speaking after the event, Macclesfield MP David Rutley said: “It was great to finally see the Pavilion open for public use. The big attendance at the opening shows the strong support it has in the local community and will help ensure that this new facility will have a successful future.
“I would like to thank Chris Andrew and other members of the team of volunteers, as well as Taylor Wimpey and Cheshire East Council, for making the opening of the Pavilion possible.”
The Jasmine Park Community and Sports Centre Action Group will now voluntarily run the facilities, with the council retaining ownership.
To book the facilities e-mail dianecordwell@sky.com or go to the facebook site at facebook.com/jasmineparkcommunityandsportscentre.
