Plans are being developed to transform eight local parks in Crewe – and residents are being invited to help shape the final designs.

The government recently signed off the business case for the ‘Pocket Parks’ project, which aims to see eight pocket parks in Crewe become more attractive and better equipped spaces for people to spend time, play and enjoy physical activity.

Crewe residents are now being invited to have their say on plans being developed for the first four parks – School Crescent, Mclaren Street, Derby Docks and Queen Street.

Residents can register their interest to take part in a focus group or interview in October, where they can find out more about the plans for each park and share their views. This can be done here.

The Pocket Parks project is being led in partnership by Cheshire East Council, ANSA Environmental Services – the council’s wholly-owned environmental services company –and Crewe Town Council.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: “Our pocket parks are brilliant assets for local communities, but we want them to be spaces that more people choose to visit and enjoy.

“We have exciting plans for these eight sites and are very keen to hear from residents about the types of improvements they would like to see, so that we can further develop our designs.”

In School Crescent, the plans include improving the play equipment and multi-use games area, planting up the park to make it more attractive and improving access in and around the site.

The plans for McLaren Street include putting in new seating and fitness equipment, improving the football pitch area, improving the access to the site and planting up and landscaping the site.

At the Derby Docks park, the plan is to transform the play area and improve the multi-use games area, while at Queen Street plans include installing fitness equipment and new seating and improving footpaths around the site.

At Queen Street, subject to external funding, there are also plans for a skate park.

Doug Kinsman, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: “Our bid to the Towns Fund was about seeking investment to deliver real and long-lasting benefits for Crewe, its communities and the wider area.

“The Pockets Park project will do just that and create nicer and better equipped spaces for people of all ages to get outdoors and enjoy.”

Plans for the remaining four pocket parks – Samuel Street, Lime Tree Avenue, Valley Park and Westminster Street – will be put forward at a later date.

As with all Towns Fund projects, it is only once a final funding offer has been made by government – and once other processes, approvals and grant conditions have been met, including planning permission in some cases – that physical works on the projects can begin.

The improvements to the pocket parks are also subject to match funding being awarded.

If awarded, work on the first four parks is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.