Major work to build a new café and playground at one of Thanet's parks is starting, with completion expected next summer.

BJF Group has been chosen by Thanet council and Friends of Ellington Park to carry out the £1.4 million project, following a four-month delay due to Covid-19.

Now the contractor is in place, work is due to start imminently at the historic park in Ramsgate and the new facilities are scheduled for completion in early summer 2021.

The project will see the creation of a new community café and toilets, a new playground, works to conserve the Victorian terrace and landscaping, and new signage, alongside critical repairs to the pathways.

These works will complement the restoration of the bandstand, which started in June.

Cllr Steve Albon, cabinet member for operational services, says it is exciting a major phase of the project is now happening.

"Getting to this point is an important milestone," he said.

"While there have been some challenges, in particular having to revise the project scope to ensure it can be delivered, we are now going ahead."

A tender process was undertaken in two stages throughout the pandemic, which resulted in the four-month delay.

In February 2020, six contractors priced for the works, however all were significantly over budget, by approximately £500,000.

Through a series of meetings with the design team and funder National Lottery Heritage Fund, Thanet council and the Friends group decided to keep the core features of the park’s masterplan but revise the scope of work.

Changes included keeping the wildlife area as it is currently, removing the planned petanque finish to the community square next to the café, and reducing the budget for activities in the park.

This created a second stage to the tender process with a reduced scope and a new budget, and BJF Group had a winning tender of £1.4 million.

The council says despite the changes, the project remains reflective of the needs of the community.

"The building of new café and toilet facilities will ensure that people can fully enjoy the park as a day out and destination," a spokesman said.

"Restoring the park’s heritage of the Victorian terrace, formal gardens and the renovation of the bandstand, will ensure the preservation of the park as people have known and loved it for generations."

Andrew Garrett, head of construction at BJF Group, says they are looking forward to working with the community to restore the park to its former glory and leave a legacy for generations to come.

"It’s testament to the strength and effectiveness of the partnership between the Friends of Ellington Park and Thanet District Council that they’ve been able to conduct the procurement process despite Covid-19," he said.

"I’d also like to acknowledge the flexibility of our funder, which has allowed us to revisit the budget allocations and reduce the scope in order to ensure that the project can progress at this time."

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