Possible use revealed for historic Haslam Park building - but major repairs needed first
The distinctive dwelling currently stands empty.
A landmark building that stands at the entrance to one of Preston’s flagship parks could be brought back into use as the base for a local cricket club.
Haslam Park Lodge has been vacant and boarded up for more than two years since its last tenant passed away.
Preston City Council has revealed it is now “in discussions” about a fresh start for the more than century-old property, which has been targeted by vandals since falling into disuse.
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The authority’s cabinet member for parks and community safety, Connor Dwyer, told a recent full council meeting that the gatehouse, as it is also known, could be repurposed for an unnamed cricket club. However, he said repair work - which the council has indicated is “major” - would be required first.
Responding to a question from a member of the public about the future of the unlisted building - which stands at the start of the park’s famous tree-lined avenue - Cllr Dwyer said it also requires “a full refurbishment”.
He added: “We have been in discussions… with a cricket club regarding taking the building back into use and for it to become a full-time base for that club. If this is viable - [and] we do hope it will be - then the club would fund the refurbishment of the building and make it in a way that would suit their requirements.
“We have identified some work that [is] required to an adjoining wall to the property and this…is now being commissioned. We are unable to move forward with a new tenant until that work is done.
“But…we will continue to liaise with the cricket club to progress their proposal and while [the building] remains vacant, we are monitoring [its] condition and I can confirm that [it] is safe, secure and in a stable condition.”
Cllr Dwyer said he could offer no “timeframe” for when the works would be completed, but stated that they were “commencing shortly”.
The property - which predates the opening of the popular green space in 1912 - was historically occupied by the park’s keeper, but that arrangement ended several years ago when the dedicated maintenance role was scrapped. Since then, the premises have been leased as an ordinary dwelling.
The city council said last summer it has received proposals from several interested parties regarding the future use of the lodge - one of which involved the installation of cricket wickets on the park.
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