Car park providing an extra 88 spaces nearly completed at Northumberland beauty spot

Plessey Woods Country Park, near Bedlington, attracts thousands of visitors each year and has become even more popular over the past 12 months as people seek to exercise in their local area.

The park has already undergone a range of work as part of the council’s Country Park Improvement Plan, including a new children’s play area and improvements to the main entrance to the park.

However, the park’s popularity has led to some issues over parking in recent months, with some visitors parking irresponsibly on the surrounding roads and even blocking driveways.

To help cope with the extra influx of visitors a new overflow car park is being built, adding an extra 88-spaces which will be available all-year round.

The work will be complete ahead of the expected increase in visitor numbers over the Easter holidays and the warmer months.

Cllr Jeff Watson, cabinet member with responsibility for parks, said: “Plessey Woods is one of the jewels in the crown of our green spaces, attracting thousands each year who come to enjoy its peace and tranquillity as well as the play park and visitor centre.

“It’s increasing popularity has meant people have sometimes found it difficult to park at peak periods so this new car park should resolve the issue and allow everyone who wants to enjoy the park be able to do so.”

Cllr Malcolm Robinson, Bedlington West, said: “The increasing popularity this Green Flag Park now enjoys has meant it has suffered from parking problems, but at last these have been addressed to a point of more than doubling the parking provision within the park itself.

“This renewed popularity is in no small way testament to the hard work, dedication and diligence of the staff there and I would like to thank them for their efforts in working in partnership to improve the park.”

Council leader Glen Sanderson added: "Over the past two years we’ve made significant investment in our country parks to enhance their appeal as great places to visit, to make them more accessible and significantly improve the visitor facilities.

“We’re delighted this work’s been able to be done ahead of the main visitor season.”

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