Plans to open up Moulton Park

Moulton could be finally set for a children’s play area as part of ambitious plans to open its 23-acre park permanently back to the public.

A green burial site and parkland trail are also planned for the site off Bell Lane which is hoped to be a flagship project for South Holland District Council who bought the land in 2016.

The costs of setting up the park are intended to be raised by building between six to tenhomes, some of which would be affordable homes, to the south of the site.

After the park is set up the idea is that the council would then hand it over be run self-sufficiently by a community interest company.

Some funds would come through the proposed new burial ground which would be 0.6 acres of the most northerly section of the land adjacent to the A151 and its junction with Bell Lane.

The cemetery would have a capacity for 600 plots and the council estimates that 15 to 40 burials could take place every year.

Rather than gravestones, remains would be marked by plaques and trees.

Other potential aspects being looked at for the park include an area for dog walkers to let their pets off their leads and areas for community groups to utilise.

The whole project is the first of part of a plan by South Holland District Council leader Lord Gary Porter to look to create a woodland near every major settlement in the district as reported previously in The Voice.

The whole site, including the building of the new homes, will be subject to a single planning application that the council hopes will be submitted after its cabinet backs it in the summer.

A housing survey is set to begin soon and the council hopes work can begin before the end of 2020.

Moulton resident Andrew Malkin has been campaigning for a children’s park in the village for around 30 years.

“I started campaigning when my children were young and we had nowhere to go and now I’m a grandfather to an eight-year-old,” he said. “I’m pleased there’s been some progress.

“People in Moulton have to take their little ones to Holbeach, Whaplode or Surfleet Seas End to use a swing.

“I am slightly disappointed it’s taken this long and I was told last year by Lord Porter it would be open by this summer.

“Having just over half an acre for the park out of 23 seems a little mean too.

“But at least progress is being made.”

It’s proposed the site would remain the venue for the Moulton Show and may be able to host other events.

Moulton ward councillor Anthony Casson and the authority’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “I’m really excited about this which we’ve been working on for the last four years.

“We want to work with the public on this which will be very important for Moulton and will secure the area and open it up for years to come.

“This isn’t only for Moulton, though, it’s for the whole of South Holland.”